Reflecting on decades of practicing ‘patient-first’ pediatrics
After 35 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Martin Borenstein is hanging up his stethoscope and playful cartoon ties for good as he retires from Kids First Pediatric Partners on December 31.
Dr. Borenstein joined Kids First in 2019 after nearly three decades working in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. At the time, the birth rate there was declining, affecting school enrollment and pediatric practices.
Once it was time to move north, Dr. Borenstein was attracted to Kids First because of our outstanding reputation in the area. He was considering a few practices and narrowed down his options by calling each of them early on a Monday morning to see how they responded. He says a sign of a well-run practice that puts patients first is one that answers quickly on a Monday morning.
Kids First answered in the first minute, says Dr. Borenstein.
“What that told me is Kids First is focused on good service and patient care. If you’re a parent who wants to choose a medical group, call on Monday morning and if you don’t get an answer by dinner time, find another practice,” says Dr. Borenstein.
Other features of Kids First are consistent with how Dr. Borenstein ran his practices in Orland Park as well, such as offering convenient hours, walk-in hours and a designated referral coordinator. “What patients need is easy access, so a good practice is designed around that,” he says.
Dr. Borenstein chose pediatrics because he loves seeing children grow from birth to college. He’s attended dozens of patient weddings and even cared for many of the children of his earlier patients. Medicine, in general, has changed since his early days of practicing with paper charts. “When I started, all I needed fit in my pocket: a stethoscope, otoscope and prescription pad. Today, it requires much more business structure to run a practice,” he says.
Pediatrics is increasingly dominated by women physicians since Dr. Borenstein graduated from medical school in 1990. Then, he estimates pediatrics had a 70-30 male-to-female ratio. “Goofy ties on male pediatricians weren’t unusual,” says Dr. Borenstein.
Electronic medical records (EMR), insurance policies, and even how technology affects children have dramatically changed the way pediatricians practice medicine today. Still, Dr. Borenstein says he’ll miss the art of connecting to children and families to help them live healthy lives the most.
Next week, when Dr. Borenstein retires, he’s looking forward to spending more time pursuing personal interests, traveling and spending time with his wife and grandchildren. As for his pediatric tie collection, he says his grandchildren will be left to fight over them.