Finding the Right Pediatrician For Your Child

What You Need to Know

The first pediatrician your finger lands on in phone book will not necessarily be the best pick for your child. Minimum standards include certification by the American Board of Pediatrics and fellowship in the American Academy of Pediatrics – but beyond that, doctors come as varied as the patients they treat. Which style, philosophy, and personality you're going to entrust your child's health and comfort in should require a bit more thought and investigation before making a commitment. 

Recommendations from friends and family can be helpful, but the best way to decide if a pediatrician is the right fit for your child is to interview the doctor yourself. 

• Ask where the doctor attended medical school and performed his residency.
• Decide whether you feel more comfortable with an older, more experienced pediatrician, or with a younger pediatrician who may be more in touch with the latest techniques.
• Consider whether your child responds better to no-nonsense adults, or feels more comfortable with a nurturing approach.
• Consider whether your child will ultimately prefer to deal with a doctor of the same gender.
• Find out how hard it is to get a same-day appointment.
• Who takes the call if your child falls ill at 3 a.m?
• Are medical records kept electronically, for easy access at a distance if necessary?
• Does the doctor's philosophy line up with your own?
• Does the doctor care to effectively explain his thought processes?
• Based on your initial conversation, does this seem like a person you'll feel comfortable talking to when worried? 

Doctors are busy and you should be considerate of their time, so remember that when you do choose that special doctor, your relationship is a two way street: 

• Show up a few minutes early so that you can already be in the waiting room when time comes for your scheduled appointment.
• If you have a concern to discuss out of your child's earshot, call ahead.

For more on this topic, see the complete article:

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ed_How_Find_Perfect/