In the Spotlight

Choosing a Pediatrician

By Valerie Banarie, RN, BSN, CLC
PersonalMD.com

When you discovered you were pregnant, you probably searched high and low for an OB/GYN you felt comfortable with and trusted to provide the best care possible for you and your unborn baby. The next big choice in healthcare providers is the doctor who will care for your baby after birth and throughout his or her childhood.

The optimal time to begin looking for a pediatrician is while you are still pregnant. Many people begin with the list of pediatric providers covered by their insurance plan, others get recommendations from their obstetrician. Suggestions from friends and family are also a good source of referrals.

Ultimately, the pediatrician you choose will be someone you will have a great deal of interaction with in the first year of your babys life, so make sure you spend time interviewing your top contenders.
Many pediatricians will gladly schedule an appointment with you and your partner to allow you to ask questions and get a feel for them and their practice. Many do not charge for this time.

You can tell a great deal about the pediatrician during this interview, beyond their answers to your questions.
Take a look around the waiting room. Is it designed with children in mind?
Are there books and toys available to keep them occupied during a wait or to take their minds off anxiety about the visit?
Imagine how you and your child will feel waiting in this office. Is there a separate waiting area for very ill or contagious patients, or at least is the room large enough so that those waiting do not need to be pressed against each other?
Do you get the impression that the doctor will have time to answer all of your questions, or do they seem to be rushing from room to room?
What about the doctors staff?
Are they pleasant?
Do they relate well to children, speaking directly to them when appropriate, and in language they can understand?
How does the staff relate to one another? To you?
The way the staff interacts with patients and parents can be a reflection of the doctors style of interaction.
Now for the interview with the doctor. You choose a doctor for their medical expertise and experience, so ask about where they went to school and where they did the rest of their training. Are they members of the American Academy of Pediatrics? Board certified pediatricians will have the initials FAAP after their name.

Other things to inquire about include:

1. Office hours: Are they open weekends or evenings?
2. How do you reach the doctor if necessary after regular office hours?
3. Is this a private practice, or a clinic? Can you schedule appointments with the same doctor each time? Does the practice employ a nurse practitioner, and under what circumstances would your child come under their care? Who will see your child when the doctor is unavailable?
4. Who answers your questions when you call the office, the doctor or the nurse, and how long will you usually need to wait for a response?
5. What hospital is the doctor affiliated with? Is it the same one where you will deliver the baby? If not, your pediatrician may not be the one to examine the baby prior to discharge.
6. How does the doctor feel about breastfeeding? It is important that your doctor support your decision to breastfeed or bottle feed, and be able to provide help or referrals if you encounter difficulties.
7. 8.How comfortable are you speaking with the doctor?

   The pediatrician you select will be more than just someone you see once in a while, they will feel almost like a part of the family. It is vital that you feel comfortable with them and their credentials, office, and style of practice.

   No matter how highly recommended a particular pediatrician may be, take the time to interview them. Its your child they will be caring for.

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