One question I get asked a lot is how parents can go about finding the best pediatrician for their child. The relationship you develop with your child’s pediatrician will last decades, so it requires honesty, mutual trust and good communication. I’ve been a pediatrician for over 30 years, so you can trust me on this one.
One question I get asked a lot is how parents can go about finding the best pediatrician for their child. The relationship you develop with your child’s pediatrician will last decades, so it requires honesty, mutual trust and good communication. I’ve been a pediatrician for over 30 years, so you can trust me on this one.
Start by asking friends in the medical field for a recommendation. Professionals in the medical field know one another’s reputations. The bad ones get singled out pretty quickly—usually on the basis of a medical mistake, not personality. So if you have a friend who works in a hospital, ask him or her who they recommend.
A open relationship with your pediatrician requires honesty, mutual trust and good communication
Then, set up an interview. I love seeing new parents and understand that after they interview me, some will choose my practice and others won’t. When you schedule an interview with a potential pediatrician, make sure you ask these five important questions:
What are your views on life?
It is crucial that you feel supported and encouraged by your pediatrician because you are a far bigger influence over your child’s health and wellness than she is.
If you want to breastfeed until your baby is three years old, for instance, it’s important to feel supported by your doctor, not maligned. On the other hand, if you can’t breastfeed or choose not to, you should not feel shamed by your doctor. You are in charge of feeding your baby, not your doctor, and you must always get the help that you need.
Will you respect that I make final decisions for my child?
The best thing that I can do as a pediatrician is to teach, support and encourage parents because they—not me—hold the power in a child’s life. This means that I must be open to listening to their ideas (even if I don’t agree) and respect their decisions. When you have an open relationship with your doctor, you will trust one another enough to weigh options and come to an agreement on what’s best for your child.
One caveat: This is particularly true when it comes to immunizations. Some parents don’t want their children immunized and all pediatricians want to immunize. But we doctors are being told by insurance companies what we can and can’t do. For instance, many insurance companies withhold payment for the visit if we don’t immunize because they feel we are delivering “substandard” care. That’s why many doctors won’t take children in their practices unless parents agree to immunize. This means that it is harder to find doctors who truly let parents be in charge. This is frustrating for parents and pediatricians.
What is the office policy for sick kids?
This sounds silly, but some medical practices don’t leave enough room in their schedules to see sick children, so parents end up going to Urgent Cares instead of coming to see their doctor. At the first visit, ask if your baby will be seen on a day he is sick and make sure your doctor says yes. If he doesn’t, go elsewhere.