Choosing a Pediatrician

Parents should begin preparing for their new baby’s healthcare during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. If you interview and select a pediatrician before your child is born, it will help you to feel better prepared and more confident when you return home from the hospital. Before beginning your search, consider whether you'd like a male or female physician, someone older or younger than you, the pediatrician's location, language/ethic preferences you may have, and whether your health insurance has designated provides from which you must select.

After clarifying your needs, consider several available references. Family, friends, and neighbors with children are reliable resources in addition to your obstetrician. You may also call a hospital you trust for a list of physicians in your community who admit patients to that hospital.

After identifying several choices, schedule preliminary meetings to interview the pediatricians being considered.

Basic questions you should ask include:

• What are the office hours?
• Does the doctor have hours set aside for phone calls?
• Does the doctor accept early morning or evening appointments on cer- tain days?
• How long does a child normally wait to see the doctor?
• What are the office fees and is a payment plan offered? Will the doctor accept my medical coverage?
• Do I have to go elsewhere for laboratory work?
• Will nurses be available to answer routine questions?
• Where does the doctor admit in an emergency, and will that hospital accept my insurance?

When you meet the doctors, it may help to ask if they have children of their own, where they went to medical school, if they are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and if they are members of a national medical organization (such as the American Academy of Pediatrics). Issues you may want to discuss with the pediatrician concerning his or her philosophies of child care might include: breast vs. bottle feeding; pacifier use; circumcision; discipline; crib safety, car safety, and general accident prevention; the effects of secondhand smoke on your newborn; early child development and daycare.

As a parent, you will help ensure your child's health and development more than your pediatrician. It is imperative to take the time to find a physician who will be a partner in your child's care as well as a trusted counselor who is willing to listen to your concerns and who is committed to building a lasting relationship with both you and your child — in sickness and in health.

Editorial provided by Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.