Finding a Pediatrician
When, Where & What to Consider
Congratulations on becoming a parent! Among the many things you will be deciding in the next few months, you will be looking for a pediatrician for your new baby. I would like to give you some tips that will help you establish the right match for your family and your child.
What is a pediatrician? We are doctors who provide comprehensive health care to children of all ages, through young adulthood. We help parents to make sure that the child is developing both physically and cognitively. We are experts in nutrition, preventative care and vaccinations. We are diagnosticians, prepared to evaluate and treat all levels of illness. We help parents with parenting issues!
The best time to start looking for a pediatrician is in the second trimester, early third trimester. This will give you plenty of time to visit offices if you prefer and/or schedule a ‘prenatal’ visit during which you can interview the new doctor and at the same time get a sense of the office. The best way to start looking for a pediatrician is to ask other parents who you trust, and with whom you share values. Your obstetrician can also be a valuable source of information. They will most likely have a working relationship with the pediatricians in the area and will know the doctors who are respected in your community. If you are new to this area, you can contact the local Children’s hospital for a list of pediatricians on staff. Many doctors have web sites, so an internet search can be helpful. It would be advisable to choose a pediatrician who is board certified by the Academy of Pediatrics, and who is on staff at the local hospitals. This will assure that the doctor has passed all of the rigorous standards required by these institutions, and is up to date on continuing medical education.
Once you have identified a few pediatricians, you can call the offices to arrange a time to get more information. Most pediatricians welcome expectant families to visit for a personal meeting or open house in the last few months of the pregnancy. During this visit you will get logistical facts about the office such as hours, office procedures, insurances accepted. More importantly you will find out about the basic philosophy of the doctor/ office with regard to child care. Although most pediatricians follow the guidelines of the Academy of Pediatrics, style of practice and philosophical approach can very widely. While you may feel more comfortable with a partnering relationship with your pediatrician, another family may welcome a more authoritarian approach. One office may have a more relaxed approach to the scheduling of vaccines, another may be more strict.
The logistical issues you will want to know include:
- What are the office hours? Do they include evenings and/or weekends?
- How are sick appointments made?
- Is the office conveniently located?
- In which hospitals does the doctor have privileges and where do they send their patients for hospital/emergency/specialty care?
- How is specialty care coordinated
- How does the office handle insurance referrals, if necessary?
- How are phone calls handled?
- Is there a ‘call-in’ hour?
- Is there an advice nurse?
- When are calls returned?
- What happens when the office is closed?
Consider the following questions to better understand the new pediatricians approach and philosophy:
- What are the ways that he/she practices medicine that promote disease prevention?
- How does the practice monitor growth and development?
- How does the pediatrician communicate his assessment of the child’s progress?
- What kinds of educational material does the practice use/share with parents?
- What is the practice philosophy with regard to vaccines/vaccine schedules?
- In what ways does the practice promote breast-feeding? Is there lactation help available?
- What is the practice philosophy regarding antibiotic/medicine use?
- Does the doctor talk to the child when age appropriate?
- How does the practice help with the transition to young adulthood?
This new relationship between your family and the new pediatrician will potentially last most of the next 20 years! You should feel comfortable that this is the person who will listen to you and your child, will answer all of your questions, and be available when you need them. You are the ultimate architect of your child’s health and well being, and you will need a person you like and trust to help navigate the joys and bumps ahead!
