Selecting a Pediatrician
Where to Begin Your Healthcare Provider Search
Preparing for your first baby is a very exciting experience. There are multiple decisions as part of the planning. One important choice is what pediatrician to use.
There are at least ten well visits during the first two years of a child’s life. That is if your baby is one of the few without ear infections, colds or rashes to deal with. It is a big decision because you will be spending so much time together over the next few years of your baby’s life.
Pediatricians spend three years in a pediatric residency after medical school. During residency, they are trained in multiple aspects of child health. The training is specific for infants to adolescents. After training, pediatricians can become board certified by passing an extensive examination. In order to remain certified, the physician must continue education and complete follow up exams.
Most pediatric offices offer prenatal consultations. This is a time to sit down with the doctor and figure out his/her philosophies. It is hard to predict what your needs for your baby will be. Easy communication with the doctor will mean a lot.
It is a great idea to come to your prenatal meeting with a list of topics that are important to you. What is the doctor’s vaccine schedule? How does this schedule compare to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations? The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization that offers evidence/expert based advice in child health. This helps you understand how the doctor makes decisions. Are they based on scientific evidence or personal opinions? How does the doctor manage the use of antibiotics? What are his/her opinions on breastfeeding or discipline? Does the physician have any specialties or areas of interest? Is the physician board certified in pediatrics? You can find this out by searching for the doctor’s name on the American Board of Pediatrics website. Where did he/she complete training?
The prenatal appointment gives you an opportunity to understand the logistics of the office. How long will it take you to get there? How is patient flow handled? Is your insurance accepted? You many want to visit pediatricians from your insurance list. What are the fees or payment schedule?
Observe how long the typical wait time seems to be. Are their separate sick and well waiting rooms? Will your baby be seen the same day for sick visits? How long does a typical appointment last? Speak to parents that are in the waiting room about their opinions of the practice. Is the office staff friendly and helpful?
There are advantages to large practices. With multiple providers, you are likely to get in on the same day. Large practices reflect the number of satisfied patients. Inquire as to how many physicians or extenders (Physician Assistants or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners). Will you be able to choose the provider you see? Smaller practices are accessible to more personalized care but it may be harder to be seen in a timely fashion.
Ask what happens when your baby is sick. Is there someone you can speak with during after-hours emergencies? Who takes the calls? Is it a call service or someone from the practice? What hospitals is the practice affiliated with? Does the doctor admit patients or employ the local hospitalists? This means that a hospital physician will care for your child during the stay. What type of labs can be done at the office? Where will you need to have x-rays done?
Word of mouth is essential for good practices. Ask your obstetrician for recommendations. Ask friends and family who they use. Ask what your friends like about the practice and what bothers them. You are looking for a physician who will care about your child. Physicians have different practice styles. It is vital that you can work together in raising a healthy child. A good pediatrician should be reliable for everything from parenting advice to diagnosing serious illness. Make the effort to find a physician that you can trust your child’s health with.