Finding a Pediatrician
Is Your Doctor Making the Grade or is it Time for a Switch
Matthew 9:35 (NIV) says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness."
Jesus is the Great Physician. Can we find anyone who compares to him to care for our precious babies and children in time of illness? No. But, with careful research and through insightful interviews, you can find a pediatrician that will care for your child with knowledge and compassion. When looking for a new pediatrician, you want to know that the doctor will know how to handle your child's fear of coming to see him, how quickly his office responds to your need for an appointment or to answer questions, and if he can speak in a language that you can understand, apart from medical terminology. In a nutshell, you want peace-of-mind and to know that your child's well-being is being take care of.
To find a new pediatrician, you might want to:
Ask friends. Recommendations from people you know and trust is a great way to find a reliable pediatrician. Be certain, though, that this person has the same philosophies on medical management that you have. For instance, do you agree on the need to immunize your child or that taking medicine, when appropriate, is important).
Call your local hospital. At least they can give you the names and phone numbers of pediatricians practicing in your area, so you can set up interviews.
Check with your obstetrician. If this is your first search for a pediatrician, talk to your obstetrician about who they would recommend. Your OB should have a pretty good handle on what pediatricians receive the most respect in the medical community.
When setting up interviews to meet with different pediatricians, here are some qualities that you should be looking for in the doctor and his office operations:
- Is he a good communicator? Try to see if he speaks to you in laymen terms to help you understand the medical community.
- Does he seem patient? Doctors are on tight time schedules and lead very busy lives. That is the nature of their job. But, you want to feel as if he is giving you his utmost attention, and treats your situation uniquely. A doctor should not make you feel bad for asking questions and wanting to gain information about your child's care.
- Does he have a top-notch staff? Receptionists should be friendly and not frazzled. There should be some sense of order at the receptionist's desk. Nurses should be able to handle things like weight checks, throat cultures, and give shots. And, you should feel comfortable with the support staff administering these functions.
- Is he available after hours in case of emergency? Things can pop up in the middle of the night, on weekends, and on holidays, and you may need to get in touch with your child's pediatrician. While you cannot expect the doctor to be available 24/7, there should be a system in place that gives you access to a professional around the clock.
- Does he show respect for children? While you may be the main voice for your child in the office, a really good doctor will address your child and show her that he cares about what is going on. Basically, a good pediatrician will treat your child as he would treat his own.
- Will he refer you to a specialist when appropriate? A reputable pediatrician will know when a situation is out of his hands and he must refer your child to a specialist. An ego would keep a doctor from referring your child, and this, obviously does not have your child's best interest at heart.
