Holistic Pediatrics
An Option for Care

Planning Ahead

Having a new baby is so exciting! It doesn’t matter if you are a new mom or a seasoned veteran. There is a lot of planning involved including finding a pediatrician that reflects your beliefs.

Many people do not realize that they have a choice in the medical care their child receives. They know lining up a doctor for their child is important but do not realize that all pediatricians do not practice medicine the same way.

Before delivery is the key time to interview different pediatricians to find out which one best suites your family. Most offices will let you set-up a new parent consultation or a “meet and greet” appointment with the doctor.

The “Meet and Greet” Appointment

Writing a list of questions and concerns before the appointment is critical. Time is usually limited so it is important to know what your priorities are. The “meet and greet” appointment is the perfect chance to find whether you are comfortable with this pediatrician, whether they are accessible, and whether they will spend the time necessary to answer all of your questions.

Next, it is important to delve into what happens at visits, including well child and sick visits. Most pediatricians do well child checks whether they are holistic or not. This includes following how a child is growing both physically and developmentally. It is also the perfect time to discuss diet, sleep, digestive problems, chronic complaints, and any behavioral concerns. Obviously this can be a lot of ground to cover so the time spent for these visits is important. Many busy practices have limited time with patients. One of the benefits of a smaller practice is that the pediatrician can spend more time with the families. More time means less questions and concerns when parents leave the visit.

Treatment offered at sick visits is also an important topic. If your child is sick, what are the options for treatment? There are times when a child needs an antibiotic. Many times other treatments are safe and effective. These include vitamins, minerals, herbs, and homeopathics that can be safely used for many common pediatric illnesses. Preventive treatment like supporting the immune system with a healthy diet and supplements also decreases the occurrence and severity of illness.

Finally, the topic of vaccines needs to be raised at the “meet and greet” appointment. Many people have heard claims about vaccines that are both positive and negative in the media. The key theme for this topic is a pediatrician who will spend the time to discuss the risks and benefits of each vaccine. There are also individual child and family medical histories that need to be factored into parents decisions about vaccines.

Benefits of a Holistic Approach

Benefits of a holistic pediatrician from parental feedback include the following:

1. More personalized relationship between physician and family
2. More time spent in office visits
3. Natural treatment options for illness
4. In-depth comprehensive treatment for chronic illnesses such as asthma or autism
5. Prevention of illness with immune support and nutrition
6. Strong nutrition and lifestyle education
7. Vaccine consultations and personalized plans

Concerns from Parents about a Holistic Approach

The majority of physicians get paid by health insurance companies at a per patient seen ratio and per procedure ratio, not per time spent with a patient. In order to provide the optimal care for patients a Holistic Pediatrician may need to charge families based on how much time they spend with them. The cost to the family for a visit is greater with this type of system. The primary question to ask yourself is if the extra time spent with the doctor is worth the extra amount of money.

The timing of payment is also different in many holistic practices. Parents typically pay directly at the time of the visit. At this time, they also receive a form to file with their health insurance company for reimbursement. The amount they are reimbursed depends on their policy and the company they use. Most holistic practitioners operate with the same policies.

Hospital coverage is another concern for some parents. Many holistic practitioners do not have hospital privileges, which means they cannot admit patients directly to the hospital. Patients are admitted through physicians who work directly for the hospital.

A Good Option