For example, they might like that their pediatrician is really fast and they are in and out of the office quickly, while you might like someone who moves slower and spends more time during the visit, even if it means that you have to wait a little longer for your appointment. Or your friend might like that their pediatrician prescribes an antibiotic every time they walk into the office, whether or not they need one. So even if you have a healthy newborn or an older child with a simple cold or ear infection, you should put some thought into who cares for him, just in case his medical problems are a little more serious than you think. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Once you find a pediatrician you think you might like, consider scheduling a "new mom" consult to interview them. Once you’ve got a list of possible candidates, verify that your top choices are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A couple of good questions to ask during this interview to help figure out if you have found a good fit include: Also, setting up an appointment to interview a pediatrician is just not something you can do when you are pregnant. If the pediatrician you would like to see is not on your insurance plan or is an hour away, it may not be very practical to go to her office. Are there separate sick and well waiting rooms? Bob Sears, MD, pediatrician in private practice in Dana Point, California, Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto, MD, MPH, Diane Bloomfield, MD, attending pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, New York. A round of interviews will weed the bad ones from the good, and you should have yourself a good doctor in no time. Others do detailed research and conduct an interview asking their potential new pediatrician everything from where they went to medical school to what their scores were on their medical boards. In a group practice, you usually see your own pediatrician when they are in the office and have the benefit of seeing another doctor if they are out. Make sure you find a pediatrician who empowers you. The biggest downside is that if your pediatrician takes some time off, either for a vacation or if he takes an afternoon off, then you may have to wait for an appointment or go to another office. Is the pediatrician on your insurance plan? You may prefer an older, more experienced pediatrician, or you might rather have someone who's young with new ideas. Are there any extra charges for advice calls during the day, after hours advice calls, refilling medicines, or requests to fill out forms, etc.? Where are you located and do you have a satellite office? A common way for parents to choose a pediatrician is to get a recommendation from their friends or family members. Although you can typically narrow down your choice of pediatricians by figuring out who is on your insurance plan and in your area, who is accepting new patients and getting some recommendations from friends and family, the best way to find a good pediatrician is to actually set up an appointment and meet with a few. (A good answer is because either the pediatrician or the parent wants one. We also went with a man because we hope that he will be our pediatrician for our son’s entire childhood.” — ValerieGP, “I liked that their office had a ‘sick’ entrance and a ‘well’ entrance so my healthy baby didn’t have to hang out amidst the germs.” — Jazibel, “The building where I see my OB is a satellite facility of the hospital at which I delivered, so it has pediatricians, specialities, urgent care, etc. Will I be charged for these calls? Decide on what criteria matter to you. Your own doctor can also be a good source for a recommendation for a pediatrician, especially if you are having a new baby. How to Choose the Best Pediatrician for Your Child, Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, The Importance of Choosing a Pediatrician, Antibiotics Before Age 2 Can Lead to Chronic Conditions, Study Finds, The Benefits of Your Child Seeing a Pediatrician, Why Some Women Decide to Change Doctors During Pregnancy, 1 in 3 Pediatricians Would Dismiss a Family That Refuses Vaccinations, Immunization Rates Are Dropping: Here's What Parents Should Know, What to Expect at Your Postpartum Checkup, How to Choose the Best Pediatrician for Your Twins, How to Freeze Your Eggs for Elective Fertility Preservation, New Parents Reckon With Unexpected Realities of COVID-19. Here’s how other Bumpies made the final decision on their own pediatricians: “We wanted a clinic that had more than one doctor, that was affiliated with good hospitals in the area, and that had emergency hours and after-hours lines. These appointments work for new dads, too. Always try to get the reason or an explanation behind a recommendation to make sure you understand why someone likes or dislikes their pediatrician. Do their views on bottlefeeing or vaccinations align with yours? Good old-fashioned of word of mouth is probably the best way to find a great doctor. First and foremost: Ask around. Some things to consider: What are their hours? . He puts you in vulnerable situations. You can’t go wrong by asking your friends and family for advice in this department—you’ll be sure to get an honest answer and a valued recommendation from someone. What is your opinion on alternative medicine, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, etc.. Good old-fashioned of word of mouth is probably the best way to find a great doctor. Before you start making some phone calls and setting up consultations (don’t worry, they’re usually free), check out our Interviewing a Pediatrician Checklist. Some do almost nothing and simply choose the pediatrician on call in the hospital when their baby is born or pick a doctor randomly from a list in the phone book or their insurance directory. Although you can typically narrow down your choice of pediatricians by figuring out who is on your insurance plan and in your area, who is accepting new patients and getting some recommendations from friends and family, the best way to find a good pediatrician is to actually set up an appointment and meet with a few. Decide what's most important to you. That means they’ll be up to date on the latest developments in child health. In this Article Step 1: Check a Pediatrician's Credentials Step 2: Do the Footwork to Find a Pediatrician Step 3: Assess Your Feelings About a Pediatrician You are really looking for someone who is going to care about your child, listen to and respond to your needs, and be available when you need her. Also try calling up your insurance company to get a list of doctors in your area that accept your plan. Will I always see my own doctor? Check out our top tips for finding the right pediatrician for your family. Find a doctor who teaches you without judging you. Download The Appto explore more tools like Planner+ and Food Safety. While you can simply change doctors if you don't like the first pediatrician you see, if your newborn or older child is truly sick, the first doctor you see could be making life-changing decisions about your child. 2. You want to make sure you find a pediatrician who really seems to connect and bond with your child.”. Although we like to think that things like cost and convenience should be secondary when making such an important decision, they can be very important when choosing a pediatrician. And while you may have to initially trust your instincts that you found the right pediatrician, it may take several visits or even several years to know for sure.
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