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CHOOSING A PEDIATRICIAN
Thirty years ago, as I hung out my first shingle, I was told there are three
qualities a parent looks for in choosing a doctor for their baby: The doctor
must be able, affable, and available. These three A's of doctor choosing
haven't changed. Besides hospitals, other physicians, and medical societies,
the best references are given by parents. If you are expecting your first baby
or are new to a community, ask friends and neighbors about the qualifications of
several doctors and interview them prenatally. Here's how to get the most out
of your prenatal interview with the doctor:
Take a written list of your most important concerns and parenting issues to
determine whether your needs are in harmony with your doctor's philosophies.
If you have a special need, such as "I want to continue breastfeeding even
though I'm returning to work," ask if the doctor can help you with this.
Avoid negative openers. Nothing is more unproductive than opening the
interview with an "I don't want list—for example, "I don't want my baby to have
any bottles in the hospital." It is more productive to ask, "What is your
policy about giving bottles to breastfeeding babies in the hospital?" Remember,
your purpose for the interview is to determine if you and the prospective
pediatrician are on the same wavelength. Negative openers close your mind to
the possibility that you may learn something from the doctor's response.
Keep your interview brief and to the point. Most doctors do not charge for
prenatal interviews, and five minutes is usually enough to make a doctor
assessment. If you honestly feel you need more time, offer to make a regular
appointment so you can pay for the time. Rambling about future behavior worries
or trying to cover the whole field of pediatrics from bed-wetting to vitamins is
not the purpose of your visit.
Are you and the doctor of a similar mindset? For example, if you are
committed to breastfeeding and your doctor is a charter member of the
bottlefeeding set, he or she may be Dr. Wrong for you.
Ask about the availability of special services in you doctor's practice.
For example, if you are planning to breastfeed, does your doctor employ the
services of a lactation consultant, and how does he or she use the consultant?
Browse around the office. Either before or after your time with the doctor,
here are some observations to consider as you make your reconnaissance. Sit in
the waiting room awhile and observe the spirit of the office. Is there a child-
considerate atmosphere, orderly but friendly and flexible? Is there child-
considerate furniture that is practical and safe? Is the staff approachable
over what may seem to you the silliest of questions?
Observe the provision for separating sick possibly contagious children from
those who are well. Separate "sick" and "well" waiting rooms, a favorite
question on handout sheets at childbirth classes, are impractical. Nobody wants
to use a sick waiting room. A more practical method for separating sick and
well patients is to immediately shuttle potentially contagious children into an
examining room, leaving the waiting room for children who are there for checkups
and children who are not contagious.
Ask the staff for other information: insurance plans, office hours, medical
fees, hospital affiliations, availability, coverage when off call, and
credentials of medical training. Ask how emergencies are handled, how the
office handles phone calls, approximate waiting time, and who would answer your
questions when doctor is not available.
Choosing Dr. Right—either a family practitioner or pediatrician—is an
investment. Your baby's doctor becomes like another member of the family, an
Uncle Harry or Aunt Nancy, who, as your child grows, also grows in the knowledge
of your child and family. This is the doctor who examines your newborn fresh
after delivery, gets you through those early feeding problems, turns off the
runny nose, eases the pain of middle-of-the-night ear infections, counsels the
bed-wetter, helps with school problems, and clears up teenage acne. Choose this
long-term partner wisely.
AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers
of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice
on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual
needs.
