Laura Ferguson, MD is a Pediatrician practicing at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, TX. She is a registered provider with The Texas Medical Board and practices under the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle B (Physicians - Medical Practice Act). General Pediatricians are a child's primary healthcare partner, providing continuous care from infancy through young adulthood, managing routine well-child visits, common illnesses, chronic conditions, and coordinating specialist care as needed to ensure optimal health and development. She serves infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Prospective patients should call (903) 266-3400 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Ferguson is a pediatrician in Tyler, TX with over 35 years of experience in the medical field. With this extensive background, she brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and care to her patients. She earned her degree from the University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry in 1985. Dr. Ferguson is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to medicine, creating a supportive environment where patients and their families feel heard and empowered in their healthcare decisions. She offers consultations in French.
A strong patient-provider partnership is the foundation of effective healthcare. Dr. Ferguson is committed to being a partner in your health journey, focusing on practical strategies to protect your health and well-being.
Dr. Ferguson's comprehensive approach to pediatric care prioritizes a strong patient-family partnership. She provides continuous care from infancy through young adulthood, addressing routine well-child visits, common illnesses, and chronic conditions. A key component of her practice is coordinating specialist care when necessary, ensuring each patient receives a personalized plan for optimal health and development.
By working together, you and Dr. Ferguson can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Also Accepts These Carriers
- Group Health Network
- Prime Health Services
As your primary healthcare provider, Dr. Ferguson offers expert diagnosis and management for a wide range of common health conditions. Common areas of focus include:
- Neonatal Airway Difficulties: A pediatrician's expertise is essential for newborns experiencing respiratory distress; they diagnose the underlying cause and manage the airway to restore normal breathing.
- Pectus Excavatum: If your child has pectus excavatum, a caved-in chest, their pediatrician will regularly check for any breathing or heart problems it may cause.
- Bowed Legs: If your child has bowed legs, your pediatrician can determine the cause, assess the severity, and offer guidance or treatment if necessary, ensuring your child's healthy development.
- Pica Childhood: If your child is eating non-food items, it could be pica; your pediatrician can assess the cause and recommend treatment.
- Congenital Hip Dislocation: Your pediatrician can identify congenital hip dislocation, a birth defect affecting the hip joint, and work with specialists to ensure your child receives appropriate care.
- Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that they cannot understand or consent to, and pediatricians play a crucial role in identifying, treating, and supporting child victims.
- Juvenile Absence Epilepsy: Characterized by staring episodes, juvenile absence epilepsy is a seizure disorder that a pediatrician can diagnose and manage to help reduce the frequency and impact of seizures.
This list represents some of the common conditions treated. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional.
To provide comprehensive and patient-centered care, Dr. Ferguson offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and treat various health concerns:
- Desensitization: For children with phobias or anxieties, desensitization therapy uses slow exposure to help them overcome their fears and feel more comfortable.
- HIV Screening: HIV screening involves a blood test, and the results will help doctors determine the next steps in care.
- Well Child Examination: Well-child exams help prevent illness by providing vaccines and checking for potential health problems.
- Lactation Consultation: If you're struggling with breastfeeding, a lactation consultant can help you troubleshoot problems and find solutions to improve your experience.
- Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination: Your child's pediatrician can perform an eye exam to detect problems that might affect their learning or development.
- Cholesterol Screening: Your child's doctor may recommend a cholesterol test to screen for high cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.
- Neonatal Care: It involves monitoring a baby's health immediately after birth, addressing any immediate health concerns.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for their professional license in Texas.
Dr. Ferguson is dedicated to partnering with patients to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how proactive care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- With expert guidance, a newborn successfully managed their neonatal airway difficulties, allowing for healthy breathing and development. The pediatrician's care enabled the family to navigate the challenges, leading to a positive prognosis.
- After receiving regular checkups and guidance from their pediatrician, the patient successfully managed their pectus excavatum, ensuring their ongoing respiratory and cardiovascular health.
- After receiving a clear diagnosis and treatment plan from a pediatrician, a young patient successfully managed their bowed legs, ensuring their continued healthy development and feeling more confident in their body.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Hospice of East Texas
4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75701
Phone: (903) 266-3400
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- University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (Medical School) - 1985
Here are answers to some common questions about receiving Pediatric care with Dr. Ferguson:
- What is the difference between a Pediatrician and a Family Medicine doctor for my child?
- Pediatricians are specialists trained exclusively in the care of children from birth through young adulthood, focusing on their physical, emotional, and social health. While family medicine doctors can treat children, a pediatrician's practice is entirely dedicated to the needs of kids, providing in-depth knowledge of childhood illnesses and developmental stages.
- Why are well-child visits important even if my child isn't sick?
- Well-child visits are crucial for preventive care, tracking development, and administering immunizations. They also provide opportunities for screenings and allow parents to discuss any concerns about nutrition, sleep, safety, or behavior.
- Can a pediatrician help with behavioral issues like ADHD or tantrums?
- Dr. Ferguson can help evaluate behavioral issues like ADHD or tantrums. Pediatricians are trained to assess a child's overall health, including behavioral and mental health. They can provide an initial assessment, offer parenting strategies, and refer to specialists for further testing and support if needed.
- What is involved in a developmental screening?
- A developmental screening is a routine part of well-child visits. It involves simple questions and checklists to assess how a child is progressing in areas like language, movement, thinking, and social skills. This helps us celebrate milestones and identify any areas where additional support might be beneficial.
- My child gets ear infections frequently. Is this something you handle?
- Yes, diagnosing and treating ear infections is one of the most common things a pediatrician does. Dr. Ferguson can determine the cause, prescribe antibiotics if necessary, and discuss strategies to reduce recurrence or determine if a referral to an ENT specialist is needed.
- My baby seems to be crying all the time. Can you help with issues like colic or reflux?
- We understand how frustrating constant crying can be for new parents. Colic and reflux are very common concerns. Dr. Ferguson can examine your baby to rule out other medical issues, provide strategies to soothe the infant, and discuss potential dietary changes or medications to help manage these conditions.
- Does my child need an antibiotic every time they have a cold or a cough?
- Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viruses like colds or coughs. Overusing antibiotics can be harmful. Dr. Ferguson will carefully evaluate your child to determine if an antibiotic is needed and will not prescribe one unnecessarily.
- How do you manage chronic conditions like asthma or food allergies?
- Dr. Ferguson manages chronic conditions like asthma and food allergies by creating a personalized action plan for each child. This includes managing daily medications, providing prescriptions for emergency medications, and educating the family on avoiding triggers. She also coordinates care with specialists, such as allergists or pulmonologists, as needed.
Hospice of East Texas
4111 University Blvd
Tyler TX 75701
Phone: (903) 266-3400
Laura Ferguson, MD is regulated by the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle B (Physicians - Medical Practice Act) in Texas and is licensed by The Texas Medical Board.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1316981863
Registration can typically be verified through The Texas Medical Board website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by kellysearch.com, is for informational purposes to help you connect with local healthcare providers. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. Healthcare providers like Dr. Laura Ferguson are trained to manage a wide range of health concerns. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.