Parents Struggle with Fragmented Pediatric Care, Survey Reveals

A recent survey conducted by Zarminali Pediatrics has shed light on the challenges parents face when navigating pediatric and specialty care for their children. The study, which included 405 parents with private health insurance, reveals significant gaps in communication, coordination, and technology use within the pediatric healthcare system.

Appointment Dissatisfaction and Care Coordination Issues

More than half of the surveyed parents reported feeling rushed during pediatrician appointments, with 48% leaving consultations unclear about next steps. This highlights a critical disconnect between healthcare providers and families, emphasizing the need for longer appointment times and clearer post-visit summaries.

The survey also uncovered issues with care coordination for children seeing multiple providers. Three-quarters of respondents have children who see one or more clinicians beyond their pediatrician, and 80% of parents reported having to repeatedly share their child's medical history with different providers. Despite the clear need for a centralized health information system, only 10% of parents have access to such a resource.

Technology and Communication Preferences

The survey findings underscore the importance of modernizing communication and scheduling in pediatric care. Nearly half of the parents (48%) considered intentional tech use to be "very important" when choosing a provider. While phone (70%) and patient portals (50%) remain the top preferences for communication, millennial parents showed a stronger preference for app-based communication compared to Generation X and Gen Z parents.

Availability outside regular business hours was deemed important by 95% of parents. However, the survey revealed that half of the parents had to delay or skip a visit due to limited availability and scheduling challenges. Surprisingly, only 13% used telehealth as an alternative, suggesting that current virtual care options are not seen as viable replacements for in-person visits.

Zarminali Pediatrics: A New Approach to Pediatric Care

In response to these challenges, Zarminali Pediatrics, a tech-enabled pediatric multispecialty group, is working to build a more coordinated and family-centered pediatric care model at scale. The company, which launched in late 2024 with $40 million in seed funding from General Catalyst, currently operates in seven states with both in-person and virtual care options.

Danish Qureshi, founder and CEO of Zarminali Pediatrics, emphasized the company's mission: "We very much believe that it's possible to deliver really good care to as many people as possible in what feels like a concierge-style service without actually having to charge concierge-type prices."

Zarminali's approach includes co-locating clinics with urgent care centers and directly employing both pediatricians and specialists. The company plans to expand to 10 states by the end of 2025 and aims to be present in the top 30 states by population within the next 36 months. Zarminali accepts all major commercial health plans and hopes to eventually accept Medicaid.