Pediatric center expansion brings more healthcare options to Prague families

In response to Prague’s alarming pediatrician shortage, My Clinic has recently expanded its Pediatric Center to accommodate sky-rocketing demand as more parents shift away from the overwhelmed public healthcare sector in search of better medical options for their kids.    

This private clinic in Prague 6 offers families everything they need under one roof, from a growing team of experienced pediatricians to a wide range of pediatric specialists, including a psychologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, nephrologist and an ENT physician. 

The Pediatric Center also has its own allergist and immunologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist, diabetologist, ophthalmologist,  orthopedist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and rehabilitation doctor.

This centralized setup allows doctors to seamlessly share information, ensuring precise and continuous care for My Clinic’s pediatric patients without the frustratingly long wait times often associated with the public sector or the language barriers many expat families routinely face. 

My Clinic’s doctors and specialists all speak English in addition to Czech. They also do not rush families out the door during appointments – another negative characteristic of public doctors’ offices – leading to a more personalized experience as well as access to more advanced technology.

“My Clinic is the best option for families seeking high-quality pediatric care in the Czech Republic,” says Dr. Jitka Činátlová, Chief of Pediatrics at My Clinic.

The Pediatric Center has two waiting rooms – one for sick kids and one for healthy kids coming in, for example, for a vaccination or a wellness check. 

Since its founding, My Clinic’s vision has been to establish a leading Pediatric Center, among other things, that would provide a wide range of services for young patients. The recent expansion has increased the Pediatric Center’s capacity for new enrollments by more than 30 percent.    

“We are fully prepared to offer appointments according to clients’ needs, both for preventative care and in acute cases,” says Činátlová. “Finding a good pediatrician in Prague is not easy at the moment, but it is our goal to help ease families’ healthcare concerns. We are a family clinic, and caring for children and their parents is our primary mission.”

While the public healthcare system provides acute care through emergency services, this approach falls short in addressing the need for ongoing monitoring and long-term care. 

“These emergency visits offer only one-time interventions, leaving families without a consistent pediatrician for their child’s ongoing health needs,” says Činátlová.

It’s a situation that many parents across Prague are only too familiar with, making private pediatric care services – like My Clinic’s Pediatric Center – an attractive alternative.  

Parents have long hailed My Clinic’s personalized, family-first approach, accessibility and willingness to help foreigners navigate the daunting Czech healthcare system. The clinic has a direct billing arrangement with many cooperating foreign health insurance companies and health assistance companies. My Clinic also provides membership programs for clients insured by main insurers on the local market.

Elizabeth quickly discovered My Clinic after relocating to Prague from the U.S. in the winter of 2022 and has never looked back. Her kids had immediately picked up a slew of school infections and illnesses after their arrival, and Elizabeth remembers how intimidating it was trying to get through a phone call with another local clinic the family had been referred to.

“After a few negative experiences with that, we learned about My Clinic. It was seamless and so easy to be able to email with the client care representatives, ensuring what we needed was translated correctly to the doctors. Since then, we’ve actively used My Clinic,” says Elizabeth, whose kids are 5 and 3. 

“I will admit as a healthcare professional myself who has worked in clinical and acute care settings, there are naturally cultural differences that take some adjusting to as an American in Prague,” she adds. “However, with that said, having had both of my children seen as patients at other medical centers and hospitals locally here in Prague, My Clinic is the closest you will feel to home.”

James, whose three children are also patients at My Clinic’s Pediatric Center, agrees, saying that My Clinic has significantly helped ease the language barrier his family would face whenever they would have to visit medical specialists around Prague. 

“The clinic's staff is highly proficient in English, which makes communication clear and efficient, ensuring our children receive the best possible care,” says James. 

Moreover, “the process of scheduling appointments and managing our children's healthcare needs is straightforward and stress-free at My Clinic. This level of support and efficiency has been invaluable, allowing us to focus on our children's health without the added stress of navigating language barriers and complex administrative processes.”  

In addition to the expansion of its Pediatric Center, My Clinic also revamped a few of its key programs that are geared toward parents and child caregivers. 

The My Maternity program, aimed at expectant mothers, has been broadened to include care from a general practitioner and a nutritional therapist. The program already includes, for example, consultations with a breastfeeding consultant and pelvic floor strengthening therapies.

The Baby Handling course, meanwhile, teaches parents how to properly handle and position their newborns and babies. This course is intended primarily for parents of children from postnatal care up to 1 year of age. However, expectant parents can also participate, practicing with a doll. 

My Clinic has also enriched its First Aid to Children course by expanding its duration. The course now lasts three to four hours and focuses on both theoretical and practical parts. Participants learn how to perform artificial respiration and resuscitation using training mannequins – nicknamed “Resusci Anne” – among other things. Ample time and space are dedicated to questions and practical exercises during the course.