How to Find a Pediatrician

How to Find a Pediatrician

Planning for a baby can be one of the most exciting times of your life, but also one of the most demanding. Pondering names, redesigning spaces in your home, and getting all of the equipment an infant needs are just a few of the things that will consume many hours during pregnancy.

But what will you do once the baby is born and wakes up with a fever? Who will you call with important health and developmental questions? Choosing the right pediatrician should be included on your list of things to do before your baby is born. Read on to find out more about finding just the right doctor for you and your child.

Why Do You Need to Find a Pediatrician?
Pediatrics is the medical specialty fully focused on the physical, emotional, and social health of children from birth through adolescence. The primary focus of pediatrics is on preventive health care. Pediatricians complete 4 years of medical school, followed by 3 years of pediatric residency. To become board-certified, a pediatrician must pass a written examination given by the American Board of Pediatrics. Pediatricians must re-certify by taking examinations every 7 years. This means pediatricians keep up-to-date on changes in children's health care. A pediatrician also must take a certain number of continuing medical education courses each year to be eligible for license renewal in the state where he or she practices.

Some pediatricians have additional training in a subspecialty area such as cardiology, critical care medicine, or hematology. These specialists usually have between 1 to 3 years of additional training after their residency and may be certified in their subspecialty.

Another type of child health care provider is the pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). These professionals generally have earned a master's degree in nursing and have special training in obtaining medical histories, performing physical examinations on children, making medical diagnoses, and providing counseling and treatment. PNPs work closely with pediatricians in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. The numbers of PNPs is growing: an estimated 600 new pediatric nurse practitioners applied to enter the work force in 1996, adding to the approximately 10,000 PNPs actively practicing in the United States.

When and How Should You Start Looking for a Pediatrician?
Your search for a pediatrician should begin well in advance of the due date of your baby. Babies often come early and you will want to do some research to help you find a health professional whose style and personality will complement your own.

A good time to begin your search for a pediatrician is about 3 months before the baby is expected. Compile a list of candidates from people you trust - your relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who share your parenting philosophies. Your family physician or obstetrician can also be a good source for recommendations. Also be sure to check whether a potential pediatrician you are considering participates in your health plan. The health plan should provide you with a list of these physicians.

If you've recently moved to a new area, you may not have personal or social connections established to ask for pediatrician referrals. In this case, you may want to contact area hospitals or medical schools for recommendations or ask the pediatric residents or nurses where they take their children. You can also request a list of board-certified pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

What Should You Ask Potential Pediatricians?
Once you have gotten some recommendations, you are ready to begin the interview process. Considering that this doctor will be the first to treat your baby, you will want to be sure that you feel comfortable with the pediatrician's personality, office staff, location, and environment. A prenatal appointment is an excellent opportunity for both parents to ask questions and get acquainted with the office staff.

During the interview, you should find out how the practice works: what are the office hours? Flexibility of the doctor's schedule may be a concern; you may prefer a pediatrician who offers weekend and evening hours. If your doctor is not available on weekends or evenings, is another doctor available? If it is a group practice, ask about the qualifications of the other doctors in the office. Who will see your child if your pediatrician is not available? Does a PNP work in the office? You will also want to find out with which hospitals the doctors are affiliated and if your doctors will come to the hospital when you deliver to examine the baby once he or she is born.

Other questions you may want to consider are how the office handles phone inquiries. Are special times set aside for parents to call in with questions or is there an open advice line during working hours?

Emergency care for your child should also be discussed in the prenatal interview. How will you reach the doctor after hours in an emergency? Are the calls handled by a message center and how quickly can you expect a response? Does the pediatrician handle his or her own emergencies?

Making a question checklist will help you organize your thoughts and be thorough during the interview. Some pediatricians offer group classes for expectant parents to learn about the practice and discuss newborn care. Many insurance companies encourage these prenatal appointments or classes and will cover cost that may be involved; however, be sure to check with the pediatrician's office and your health plan about charges for meet-and-greet sessions to avoid surprise costs.

What Should the Pediatrician's Office Be Like?
The interview is a great time to observe office procedures. Scrutinize the reception area; how many children are waiting? More than a handful may mean overbooking. Is there a place where sick children can be separated from those in for a well visit? Is the area clean and child-friendly? Reception areas should be filled with a variety of age-appropriate playthings to occupy the waiting children.

While you're waiting, talk to other parents to determine whether they are satisfied with the care their child is receiving. Is their child comfortable with the doctor? Do the parents feel confident the pediatrician is thorough and competent? The overall atmosphere in the waiting area will give you a good idea what the pediatric practice is like.

What Is the Pediatrician's Personality?
Another important aspect of the interview is getting a feel for the pediatrician's personality. Is he or she willing to explain things carefully? Are you comfortable asking questions? Are the pediatrician's age and gender important issues to you? You also should be sure that your parenting style matches your pediatrician's in the important issues. How does the doctor feel about circumcision? Breast-feeding? Use of antibiotics and other medications? Philosophical issues may not seem important before you give birth but if you consider that this doctor may see your child through young adulthood, agreement on larger issues becomes more significant.

Although it may seem a sensitive issue to talk about with a pediatrician, it's smart to ask about referrals to specialists in the event that your child needs additional care. Is the doctor financially penalized by your health plan for referring patients to specialists? Are there any restrictions on the advice the doctor may give? If you are in a health management organization (HMO), it is important to ask how your doctor handles out-of-network referrals.

Although you may feel overwhelmed with preparing for your baby's arrival, imagine how you'll feel after the baby is born. Choosing the right pediatrician will help you feel confident your baby will be well-cared for throughout childhood and beyond, and will ease some of the anxiety all new parents experience