A good place to start looking for a pediatrician is by asking your
obstetrician for a referral. He or she will know local pediatricians who are
competent and respected within the medical community. Other parents also can
recommend pediatricians who have successfully treated their children.
Once you have the names of several pediatricians you wish to consider,
arrange a personal interview with each of them during the final months of your
pregnancy. Most pediatricians routinely grant such preliminary interviews. Both
parents should attend these meetings if possible, to be sure you both agree with
the pediatrician's policies and philosophy about child rearing. Don't be afraid
or embarrassed to ask any questions. Here are a few suggestions to get you
started:
How soon after birth will the pediatrician see your
baby?
Most hospitals ask for the name of your pediatrician when you're admitted to
deliver your baby. The delivery nurse will then call that pediatrician as soon
as your baby is born. If you had any complications during delivery, your baby
should be examined at birth. Otherwise, examination can take place anytime
during the first twenty-four hours of life. Ask the pediatrician if you can be
present during that initial examination. This will give you an opportunity to
learn more about your baby and get answers to any questions you may have.
When will your baby's next exams take place?
Pediatricians routinely examine newborns and talk with parents before the
babies are discharged from the hospital. This lets the doctor identify any
problems that may have arisen and also gives you a chance to ask questions that
have occurred to you during your hospital stay, before you take the baby home.
Your pediatrician will also let you know when to schedule the first office visit
for your baby (as early as one day after discharge), and how he or she may be
reached if a medical problem develops before then.
When is the doctor available by phone?
Many pediatricians have a specific call-in period each day when you can phone
with questions. If members of the office staff routinely answer these calls, you
should find out what their training is. Also ask your pediatrician for
guidelines to help you determine which questions can be resolved with a phone
call and which require an office visit.
What hospital does the pediatrician prefer to
use?
Ask the pediatrician where to go if your child becomes seriously ill or is
injured. If the hospital is a teaching hospital with interns and residents, find
out who would actually care for your child if he or she were
admitted.
What happens if there is an emergency?
Find out if the pediatrician takes her own emergency calls at night. If not,
how are such calls handled? Also, ask if the pediatrician sees patients in the
office after regular hours or if you must instead take your child to an
emergency room. When possible, it's often easier and more efficient to see the
doctor in the office, because hospitals frequently require lengthy paperwork and
extended waits before your child receives attention. On the other hand, serious
medical problems are usually bettered handled at the hospital, where staff and
medical equipment are always available.
Who "covers" the practice when your pediatrician is
unavailable?
If your physician is in a group practice, it's wise to meet the other
doctors, since they may treat your child in your pediatrician's absence. If your
pediatrician practices alone, he probably will have an arrangement for coverage
with other doctors in the community. Usually your pediatrician's answering
service will automatically refer you to the doctor on call, but it's still a
good idea to ask for the names and phone numbers of all the doctors who take
these calls -- just in case you have trouble getting through to your own
physician.
If another doctor sees your child at night or on the weekend,
you should check in by phone with your own pediatrician the next morning (or on
Monday). Your doctor will probably already know what has taken place, but this
phone call will give you a chance to bring him up to date and reassure that
everything is being handled as he would recommend.
How often will the pediatrician see your baby for checkups and
immunizations?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends checkups by one month, and at
two, four, six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four months, and
annually after that. If the doctor routinely schedules examinations more or less
frequently than this, discuss the difference with her.
What are the costs of care?
Your pediatrician should have a standard fee structure for hospital and
office visits as well as after-hours visits and home visits (if he or she makes
them). Find out if the charges for routine visits include immunizations. If not,
ask how much they will cost. Also, if you are covered by a managed-care system
(HMO, etc.), check whether the pediatrician is on the panel of
physicians.
After these interviews, you need to ask yourself if you are comfortable with
the pediatrician's philosophy, policies, and practice. You must feel that you
can trust him and that your questions will be answered and your concerns handled
compassionately. You should also feel comfortable with the staff and the general
atmosphere of the office.
Once your baby arrives, the most important
"test" of the pediatrician you have selected is how he cares for your child and
responds to your concerns. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the treatment
you and your child are receiving, you should talk to the pediatrician directly
about the problem. If the response does not address your concerns properly, or
the problem simply cannot be resolved, don't hesitate to change
physicians.
