finding a pediatrician

I don't really know anyone to refer me to a pediatrician, I just sort of go by who is covered by my insurance and
is close to my home. I was planning on stopping by the closer one to my home today to find info,
but what do I say??/ask?

 

what are you loooking for in a doc? ask along those lines. i was reccomended to mine from quite a few people i know and dh got recommendations for them also. if there is a problem with the babies do they get you right in or make you wait or just refer you to the hospital. mine will take you right in for anything if you want them looked at they get in the same day. mine also does follow up calls. my DD needed bloodwork and i had to go out to a lab to have blood drawn. they couldn't get it so when i called the office one of the docs there will take blood and is the only one who will do it there. i have 4 male docs there. the one i saw just referred me. so find out if there is a doc in the office who will take blood if needed to. how clean does the office look? go in the bathroom does it look clean too? if not then the employees don't take good care of it and so then what do they do to the rooms? does the doc wash his hands before he see's your child. mine does when he first comes in the room so you see him do it. do they take the time to listen to you or just shoo you off. are they looking at you or around. does the doc look neat or like a slob. if you can see a patient coming out of the office and maybe ask them how they rate the office.

 

PLEASE check to make sure they are BOARD CERTIFIED!

Just because a doc is a pediatrician doesn't mean they aren't board certified. In fact, most people would be scared to know just how many aren't board certified. That certification is a seal of approval for you and me.

Also, I would ask about their call-in procedure for sick children. My Dr's office is WAY TOO BUSY and I would change if I didn't love the doc so much! But if you have a sick child, you have to call first thing in the morning - try to get through - and then maybe get an appointment. If you call later in the day, sometimes you have to wait for a call back and then maybe get a 5pm appointment. IT SUCKS... but again, I love the pediatrician and he is well known in our area for being the best. I just can't give that up!

That's all I can think of.

 

http://multiples.about.com/od/medicalissues/a/twindoctor.htm

Maybe that link could help?
Personally, I look for an office with a separate sick and well room, great hours and availabilty (not just 9 to 5), doctors that encourage breastfeeding, among other things. For twins, I'd guess you'd want to make sure the docs are experienced with such. Ask friends and hospital staffers too which peds they like. I also looked for peds who shared my childrearing philosophies. . . not just the physical stuff but behavioral/emotional developmental stuff too.

I love my peds.

 

Here's is some info. I forget where I found this info. HTH and Good Luck!

Shopping for a Pediatrician
Choosing a pediatrician may fill you with anxiety or dread, but it shouldn't. Here are some tips for helping you choose.

Your baby is due in the next few weeks, and worry starts to set in. Will I be a good parent? What will I do if my child gets sick? Who can I turn to for reliable advice?

Rest assured, many new parents fret about such matters. So relax and do what you would normally do in a crisis -- shop!

Experts say it's a good idea to actively look for a pediatrician that is not only competent but is agreeable to you. After all, this person will be your healthcare soul mate -- the one you will call at 2 a.m. when the little one has a high fever and won't stop crying. You'll need to feel comfortable enough with this doctor to discuss your kid's ailments, immunizations, thumb-sucking, bedwetting, and changes during puberty. (Gasp!) But we may be rushing things a bit.

For now, let's concentrate on how to choose a doctor that's right for you and your family.

Step 1: Check Credentials

The best time to start searching for a pediatrician is in the last few weeks before your expected due date, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Families who move or change insurance are encouraged to find a doctor well before the child needs a checkup or becomes sick.

To find a good doctor, it's always nice to get positive referrals from family and friends. If that fails, ask your ob-gyn or primary care doctor for suggestions. There are also printed guides on the topic. The AAP's Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 and The Mother's Almanac by Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons are two books recommended by Philip Itkin, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in private practice at the Omaha Children's Clinic, P.C.

Parents are also advised to check credentials, which are usually displayed on the practitioner's office wall. Appropriate training in pediatrics involves medical school and at least three years of residency. After that, many doctors take a test given by the American Board of Pediatrics, and if they pass, become board-certified.

It is possible to be a good pediatrician without this certification, says Itkin, but having it demonstrates a certain knowledge base. Likewise does being a Fellow of the AAP (FAAP). Members of the academy receive vital educational and support materials that keep doctors current on medical issues.

Step 2: Do the Footwork

During her eighth month of pregnancy, Lilybell Nakamura wanted to find a pediatrician she felt comfortable with, who was accessible for checkups and emergency visits. So the 29-year-old human resources professional made appointments to talk with several doctors.

"I sat in the waiting room, and kept my eyes and ears open," Nakamura says, taking note of kids' reactions upon seeing the doctor. When she met with the physicians, she asked them about their experience and tried to get to know them. Ultimately, she chose a practice with four well-qualified pediatricians, with one always on call.

Nakamura's strategy of meeting face-to-face with practitioners is one that the AAP recommends. The organization suggests that parents draft a list of questions before an interview. These may include:

What is your pediatric background?
Do you have a subspecialty or area of pediatric interest? If so, what is it?
How do I reach you after hours or during an emergency?
To what hospital do you admit patients?
If I have a minor question, when is the best time to call?
If I cannot speak with you, who will handle my questions?
Is there anything you would like to know about my family?

It is also a good idea to ask how many doctors are in the office, if your child will be able to see the same pediatrician for well or sick visits, and how long routine appointments are, says A. Todd Davis, MD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He says that some people like to ask about the doctor's age, if they prefer to have their children grow old with the same practitioner.

Step 3: Assess Your Feelings

The bond between the parent and pediatrician is a critical one. A doctor may be well-qualified, but experts say if a parent doesn't have confidence in him or her, it may affect the welfare of the child.

"In that case, it's better for both parties to move on," says Itkin. He remarks that it's OK for parents to look for doctors that match their styles. "We all have our own personalities."

Lynette Ursal realized this after she recently switched pediatricians for her 2-year-old daughter. Although she had never doubted the former doctor's credentials, she felt irritated every time that practitioner gave her advice. "It was the way she talked to me; I didn't like it, like I was a little girl who didn't know what I was doing," Ursal explains.

The 25-year-old mother says she is happy with her daughter's new pediatrician and feels comfortable with that doctor's recommendations.

For more information on finding a pediatrician, tap into www.medem.com, and type "Finding a Pediatrician" in the search engine.

We also asked things like, when is it okay to travel with a baby, how soon after the birth should we go out in public, what OTC meds should we keep on hand, what situations should precipitate a call to you, do you have separate well and sick child waiting rooms, do you have a lactation consultant on hand, etc.

Finding a Pediatrician

Entrusting your baby's health to a stranger is certainly one of the harder things we must do as parents but one of the most important. You'll want someone whose expertise in children's health and development is exemplary, someone who has the necessary credentials and affiliations, a person who can relate to your child and whom you can trust and feel comfortable with.

The best time to find a pediatrician is BEFORE your baby is born. Ask your obstetrician, labor and delivery nurses, childbirth educators, other parents, neighbors, family members, and friends with children for recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you ask your family and friends the following questions when they recommend a certain pediatrician:

Do you get all your questions answered by the pediatrician and the office staff?
Do you think your children respond well to the doctor?
Does the pediatrician seem to know the latest advances in pediatric medicine?
How helpful and friendly is the office staff?
How well does the office staff manage your telephone calls?
If an emergency arises, how is it handled?
Do you regularly experience long delays before seeing the pediatrician?
Is there anything about the pediatrician (or the office) that troubles you?
Ask yourself what type of practice you'd feel the most comfortable with - a pediatrician in a solo practice, a pediatrician who works in a partnership with another pediatrician, or a group practice. If you're not sure, interview different types to see what "feels right" to you.
Once you've created your list of potential doctors, call each office for an interview. Explain your situation (ie you are 28 weeks pregnant or you have a 3 year old, etc), that you are looking for a pediatrician and that you'd like to schedule an interview with the doctor. Ask if a fee is involved. Some doctors won't charge and others will.

If possible, both mom and dad should attend these meetings. You can compare notes afterwards and may have different feelings about the interview/doctor/office. Try to visit at least two different doctors for comparison purposes. Before the appointments, make a list of questions for the office and the pediatrician. Work on this list together as one of you may think of something the other forgot. Be sure to take this list of questions with you to your appointments.

When you get to the office, take a look around. Do you feel comfortable there? Is it clean, overly sterile, overly chaotic? Is the staff friendly and helpful? Are sick children separated from healthy ones? Are you rushed here and there? Are there age appropriate toys and books for children?

Ask the receptionist a few questions (remember that the pediatrician's entire staff will be helping you so if you hate the staff but love the doctor, you might be in for some frustrating times). Find out about the office hours, emergency procedures, phone hours, billing procedures, and insurance issues.

After the appointment, think about your overall impression. Did the doctor hear your questions or just talk at you? Did you feel rushed? Was s/he responsive to both of you? Were your questions answered completely and to your satisfaction? Did s/he seem compassionate and knowledgeable? Did s/he appear to enjoy children and her/his job?

Did any one person stand out on your list? If so, that's your doctor. If not, think about those that you did like. What was it that you liked? What was it that you didn't like? Can you live with those aspects you didn't like? Through process of elimination, you'll be able to find your pediatrician. If, after you've gone to this doctor for awhile, and you realize you've made a mistake, trust your instincts and make a change. This is your child after all!

MORE QUESTIONS:

What is your pediatric background?
Do you have a subspecialty or area of pediatric interest? If so, what is it?
How do I reach you after hours or during an emergency?
To what hospital do you admit patients?
If I have a minor question, when is the best time to call?
If I cannot speak with you, who will handle my questions?
Is there anything you would like to know about my family?
How soon after the birth will you need to see the baby?
Will you come to the hospital to examine the baby?
When can you be reached by phone?
How do you handle emergency/off hours calls?
Who will see my child if you are unavailable?
What is your immunization schedule?
What is your standard fee structure?
What hospitals are you affiliated with? Where will my child be hospitalized if there is a problem?
When is it okay to travel with a baby?
How soon after the birth should we go out in public?
What OTC meds should we keep on hand?
What situations should precipitate a call to you?
Do you have separate well and sick child waiting rooms
Do you have a lactation consultant on hand?

 

When looking for a ped for my oldest DD, I chose a place close to home that I had heard a lot of people used. Well she ended up having reflux and when I took her there at 5 weeks, and told them she was screaming and in pain, they asked if I had "burped her, changed her diaper, fed her". When I said yes, I do all those things, they told me babies cry. :icon_eek: I told them she was screaming in pain, not crying. They totally dismissed me as a new mother. I had a friend that used a different ped and I changed to her ped and he is wonderful, we use him now for all 3 kids. Is there anyone you can get a recommendation from? To me that is so important to know that someone you know goes to the ped and likes him/her. It is obvious that our ped loves his job and the kids and that makes me feel good. He always validated my feelings and never makes me feel like I brought them in for no reason.

 

QUOTE(Emily@Home @ May 15 2008, 11:17 AM) [snapback]774723[/snapback]
Personally, I look for an office with a separate sick and well room, great hours and availabilty (not just 9 to 5), doctors that encourage breastfeeding, among other things. For twins, I'd guess you'd want to make sure the docs are experienced with such. Ask friends and hospital staffers too which peds they like. I also looked for peds who shared my childrearing philosophies. . . not just the physical stuff but behavioral/emotional developmental stuff too.

I love my peds.


I was going to say the same thing! Do you have my ped, Emily?

 

I have been lucky that a friend of mine has 4 kiddos and they have had the same pediatrician for years now and I got the recommendation from her. They are open not only M-F but half a day on Saturday for walk ins. They have the seperate waiting rooms for sick and well babies, seperate area for immunizations, and always return your calls before the day is over, even if you call close to closing. Oh, and they can always get my daughter in the same day.

I used to use the military hospital before I had my insurance and it was nothing like this, I always left them angry and upset.

 

As a L&D/Transitional nursery nurse, I know the docs personally and always recommend the "good" ones to anyone who asks. Ask friends/family and definitely ask the nurses if you get a chance. A good opportunity for that would be at the hospital tour. I talk to expecting moms all the time.