We all want what is best for our children, including a doctor who is well-qualified, skilled, compassionate, and nurturing. First-time parents are often overwhelmed with preparing for or caring for baby, but choosing a good pediatrician doesn’t need to be a daunting task. With a little forethought and a lot of parental instinct, you can easily find a doctor to meet your needs and those of your baby.
Among the questions you should ask the doctor or the staff are:
As personal referrals are your most valuable resource, you may want to begin by asking family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Avoid going through the phone book and randomly selecting physicians with whom you are not familiar. Your insurance carrier can help as well but may limit your choice to certain pediatricians who participate in its plan. Any doctor you choose should be certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Once you have your list, if possible, schedule a face-to-face appointment with each physician to get acquainted. Unfortunately, many pediatricians no longer meet with prospective parents, and those who do may charge a fee for consultation time. In most cases, the office staff can give you a tour of the facility and answer questions about policies and procedures. If you do visit with the doctor, he or she will probably provide information about his or her credentials, background, and philosophy about raising and caring for children.
You may want to discuss such important matters as immunizations and breastfeeding to make sure your feelings are in line with the pediatrician’s. Remember that no question is silly and always keep in mind that this person may be treating your child and helping your family through medical crises for the next eighteen to twenty-one years.
In addition, you should ask how after-hours calls are handled and what backup provisions are available. In some practices, particularly larger ones, the pediatricians cover one another. Other offices refer to an urgent care center with which they have an arrangement, and still others send patients to a hospital emergency room. You may want to find out how much time is scheduled for physicals. Twenty to thirty minutes is optimal to allow for the actual examination as well as discussion.
The office space itself should be clean and child-friendly. While some practices provide separate rooms for well and sick children, overall cleanliness is more important.
Key to the whole experience of choosing a pediatrician is following your instincts. Nothing is as telling as how you feel when you watch the doctor interact with your child or when your pediatrician answers your questions. You should always be comfortable and satisfied with both the care your child receives and the explanations you are given. For at least the first few years of your new baby’s life, you will be seeing the doctor frequently, so it is especially helpful to have a good rapport.