Choosing a Pediatrician: What Questions Should You Ask?

by Faith Golden

During pregnancy, your mind often races ahead to think of the future, the nursery, what kind of delivery you want etc. But, sometime around the end of your second trimester or beginning of your third trimester, you should start thinking about the health care professional you will choose to take care of that bundle of joy, from babyhood through adolescence. Some people choose pediatricians, and some choose family practice doctors, but either way, you want to choose someone who sees eye to eye with you, and supports your values. Of course if for some reason you don’t see eye-to-eye, you can change doctors, but you will save yourself a lot of headaches and hard feelings if you find a doctor for your child that you trust and with whom you feel comfortable.

The way to start your search is to ask family and friends who takes care of their children. Then ask them what they like and dislike about the doctor. You can begin to make a list of the characteristics you will be looking for in your baby’s doctor. If any of the doctors sound like someone you would want taking care of your baby, then consider adding him or her to the list of doctors you want to interview.

It is a good idea to write your questions down and use the same list of questions for every doctor you interview. Some doctors will charge you for the interview appointment and some won’t.

Here are some questions you might want to put on your list:

• Does the doctor’s office take your insurance? (If they don’t take your insurance, there’s no reason to visit or interview the doctor.) How does the office handle billing?
• Is this a sole or group practice?
• If it is a private practice ask who will see your child when your doctor isn’t available?
• If it is a group practice, will you see your own doctor every time, or other doctors in the group?
• What is the policy regarding evening and weekend hours?
• How many years has the doctor been in practice? Does he/she have a specialty? Is he/she board certified in pediatrics? (Easy to check; go to the American Academy of Pediatrics website and search)
• What are the office hours? How long on average does the doctor spend with each patient? Do they spend more time with a first time parent and their infant?
• Does the doctor’s office have same day appointments if your child is ill?
• Will the doctor expect you to be knowledgeable or will he/she expect you to go along with what he/she says as the truth? (Remember that the doctor had to go to medical school for 8 years of hard work to get their medical license, but parents also know their babies.
• How are emergency and non-emergency calls handled?
  • How can you reach the doctor if your child gets sick after hours?
  • Is the doctor available by email if you have questions?
  • Will the doctor put things in writing during an appointment? (It is hard to hear everything when you have a squirmy or crying baby.)
• With what hospital is the doctor affiliated? Is that hospital convenient to you?
• Does the doctor see newborns in the hospital or in their office for the first visit?
• Do you like the doctor’s communication style? Was he/she easy to talk to? Did you feel comfortable asking your questions?
• Did the doctor’s personality mesh with yours? Do you want someone to take charge and tell you what to do? Or are you more of the team approach, collaborative kind?
• What is the doctor’s philosophy about issues that are important to you, such as breastfeeding, circumcision, immunizations, co-sleeping, weaning, nutrition? Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out yet. You are gathering information and seeing how it sits with you. (You want your child’s doctor to support you in how you want to raise your child)
• Was the waiting room clean? Were there a lot of toys for children to play with? Were they clean?
• Does the office have two waiting areas, one for sick children, one for well children and/or an area for infants where parents can calm down their baby after shots or an uncomfortable exam.
• Were the staff and nurses helpful? Was it easy to get an appointment? Does the doctor work with a Nurse Practitioner? (They usually have more time to spend with patients and can take the place of the doctor for most well baby check-ups, freeing up the doctor to handle more serious issues.)

After you have interviewed a few doctors, take some time to digest all of the information you have gathered. Then you can make an informed decision on who is the right Pediatrician for your family. Congratulations on your new baby!

About the author: Faith Golden is a Child Behavior Specialist and the founder of It’s Aparent Parenting. Faith has over 20 years experience working with parents and their children. To give you and your baby the best start in life, spend some time with an It’s Aparent parenting coach to prepare for the changes a baby brings to a couple and family. See www.itsaparentparenting.com for more information.

© Faith Golden 2013. This material may not be copied or used in any manner without the express written permission by the author.