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Choosing a Pediatrician
Congratulations! You are about to become a new parent. It is an exciting time - picking out names, decorating the baby's room, and thinking of all the things to get ready for a new future. But one of the most important decisions you will need to make is selecting a pediatrician, the primary health care provider for your little one.
Of all the decisions parents make in the life of their child, few are more important than finding the right pediatrician. Many babies will visit the pediatrician as many as eleven times throughout the first year of life for both well-baby and other visits. The pediatrician not only tends to a child's illnesses, but also monitors the overall health and well being of your child and can be your guide through your child's growth and development. For these reasons, it is important to find a pediatrician whom you trust, and with whom you and your child feel comfortable.
Perhaps you are not a "new" parent - maybe you find yourself new to the area or needing to find a new pediatrician. In either event, Bayshore Pediatrics provides the following guide to help you through the important process of selecting a pediatrician. |
Step 1: Get recommendations
The first step in your search for a pediatrician is to ask around. Ask other parents - your friends, neighbors and/or coworkers - whom they would recommend. If you are expecting, you also may ask your OB/GYN for recommendations. Try to begin this process at least three months before the baby's due date. Some questions you should ask other parents:
- How does their child respond to this doctor? To his or her staff?
- Does their child dread or seem to fear the doctor, or does he/she seem comfortable with the doctor and staff?
- Do you feel comfortable asking questions during the visit, or even calling at another time to ask questions?
- Does the doctor take time during visits, or do you feel rushed?
- How quickly can you get an appointment for a well-child visit or for a sick-child visit? What about after-hours or on the weekend?
- Does the doctor and staff provide ample information regarding child development, immunizations, and/or illness?
- What can you tell me about the pediatrician's philosophy of treatment? Does he/she take a more proactive approach to treatment, or a more relaxed "wait and see" approach?
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Step 2: Decide what is most important
Before you begin interviewing any of the recommended pediatricians, decide what is important to your family. Perhaps location is very important, or that a pediatrician has evening or weekend hours. Consider the reasons why a doctor was recommended, but also consider the practice size (large versus a small practice), location and hours. Also, find out if the recommended doctors have been board certified and if they have any specialties or areas of interest. Review your insurance policy for in-network pediatricians.
Once you have what is important for your family, look at your list of recommended doctors and select those you want to interview.
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Step 3: Interview your top candidates
This step is particularly important. Most doctors are happy to meet with prospective patients and their parents. When setting the appointment, ask if there is a charge for this consultation. See Bayshore meet the doctor appointments.
The interview should be a face-to-face interview at the doctor's practice. If possible, both parents should attend. Here are a few suggested questions:
- Is the doctor board certified through the American Academy of Pediatrics? Does the doctor have any other certifications?
- Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with?
- Will the doctor (or someone else in the practice) see your newborn in the hospital or will the first contact be an office visit?
- How many doctors are in the practice? Will your child see the same doctor each visit, or will he/she see different doctors on a rotation?
- Do the doctor's hours suit your schedule? You might prefer one who works certain days of the week or who offers evening or Saturday-morning hours.
- How does the office handle telephone inquiries? Does it set aside specific times for parents to call in with questions or is there an open advice line during office hours? And if staff members handle the inquiries, do they dispense their own advice or relay the doctor's?
- How long does it take to get a non-emergency appointment with the doctor?
- How are appointments handled for children who are sick?
- Is the staff friendly and helpful?
- How do you reach the doctor if your child gets sick after hours? When your doctor is not on call, who covers for her/him? (Some doctors send patients to urgent care clinics, for example, while others will meet you at the office even at night.)
- Does the doctor have a subspecialty or an area of interest?
- Do you and the doctor have similar views on topics such as circumcision, breastfeeding, immunizations, alternative medicine and parenting issues such as attachment parenting, co-sleeping, single parenthood and daycare? If not, is the doctor open to — and supportive of — other opinions and approaches?
- Pay attention to such intangibles as the doctor's style. Do you want a doctor who offers choices and lets you decide which one works best for you — or would you be more comfortable with one who gives a lot of direction? Do you feel at ease asking questions? If you have brought your child with you, does he/she seem comfortable with the doctor?
- Was parking a problem?
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Bayshore Pediatrics interview with the doctor appointments
Bayshore Pediatrics physicians are pleased and excited to meet with new patients and parents in order to provide a better opportunity to choose the right pediatrician for you and your child. These appointments are provided at no charge.
The appointments are usually scheduled as the last appointment of the day in order to provide the best opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for how the pediatrician would work with you.
Our friendly staff will help you set up an appointment with one or more of our pediatricians. |
Step 4: Review your list
After you have interviewed the doctors, compare your experience with what is important to your family and determine the best fit is. |
Step 5: Make a choice
Once you have found a doctor who meets your family's needs, accepts your insurance, and is accepting new patients, go ahead and let the office know that you have made a decision. If you are pregnant, you will need to let the office know your due date so they can expect a call from the hospital at the time of your baby's birth. If you are not pregnant, you may schedule your child's next well-child appointment.
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