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How to Choose a Pediatrician

7/20/2019

10 Comments

 
Whether you're pregnant and looking for your baby's first pediatrician, or you recently moved and are looking for a new pediatrician for your brood, it's not a simple task. You don't just look on the map and choose the nearest doctor. Oh no. There are a bazillion things to consider, and I hope my list will help you find the perfect match for your family! If I missed any key points, please do comment and let me know so I can add them!!
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Actions to take when seeking out a Pediatrician:
  • search online for reviews - check yelp, local Facebook parenting groups, etc
  • come up with a list of possibilities and schedule a consultation with each practice (most offer this free of charge, some even have meet & greet events)
  • come up with a list of "must", "ideal", and "not important" items (our list below can help you narrow it down)


Policies and Factors to Consider:
  • Proximity - How far is their office from you? Is it easily accessible on foot or by public transportation when you have a stroller with you? If you'll be driving, do they have parking available?
  • Insurance - Obviously you'll want to make sure they take your insurance! If you don't have insurance, find out what kind of payment options they have.
  • Access to Second Opinion - is there more than one doctor in the office at a time, allowing for a quick consultation amongst doctors, or a second opinion on an urgent matter?
  • Vaccines - Some practices follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) Vaccine Schedule strictly, others allow for spacing vaccines out (without delaying them), and others allow delaying or skipping some/all vaccines. (Important note: It is very important for the health of your child, your family, and the community at large to fully vaccinate every child and adult, on time. Some cannot be vaccinated due to serious health conditions, and for some vaccinations do not provide full immunity, which is why it's SO SO SO important for the rest of us to be vaccinated. PLEASE do not take this lightly!!!)
  • Antibiotics - Newer thought is that antibiotics aren't needed in some conditions they were previously automatically prescribed for, and overuse can cause more harm than good for that individual (gut health) and the community (antibiotic resistant bacteria). Each doctor and practice will have a slightly different stance on this, and it's worth considering - how do they handle ear infections, for example - automatic antibiotics or wait and see policy.
  • Waiting Rooms - do they separate well and sick patients into separate waiting rooms, or separate appointment times? How do they clean the rooms, waiting areas and toys?
  • Office Hours - are they "working parent friendly" with hours available on evenings and weekends?
  • After Hours Access - Can you call a doctor or nurse with an urgent question? Can you text a photo for advice? Do they use a answering service where you leave a message and a doctor calls you back?
  • Flu Testing - Some practices do not test for flu, they simply treat it as any viral infection - stay home, rest, hydrate. If you go to one of these practices and want to know if your child has the flu,  you'll have to take them to Urgent Care to be tested. This is a deal breaker for some families, and no biggie for others.
  • Blood Work and other Testing - Many practices do blood work and other basic tests in-house, and others will require you to make a separate appointment at a lab. 
  • Breastfeeding Support - Do they support breastfeeding or push formula? Do they have a Lactation Consultant in-house?
  • Additional Services - Do they have any extra offerings for patients? For example, CPR classes, new parent meetups, nutritionist, expertise with children with special needs, support for single parent with multiple children (can a nurse come in to assist)?
  • Access to Records - Do they have an easy-to-use online system where you can fill out forms before an appointment, get text or e-mail reminders for upcoming appointments or the need to schedule one, and see all previous labs and information about your children?
  • Hospital Affiliation - Will your pediatrician have the ability to visit or care for your child if admitted into a hospital?
  • Wait Times - What is their average wait time (ask the practice and word of mouth from others who use them)?
  • Office Staff & Paperwork - What is the response time when calling the office or requesting forms (for school, camp, work permit, etc)? Do they charge extra for forms or sending records? How friendly and helpful are office staff over the phone, email, and in-office? What is the process for obtaining referrals? How is billing handled?
  • General Vibe - How do you feel about the doctor(s) and office. Is it clean, modern, friendly? Do they answer your many questions without a condescending tone. Do you feel like this is someone you could trust and have open discussions with regarding your child(ren)'s health?
10 Comments
Iuliya link
7/27/2019 10:03:27 pm

Wow I did not realise how many factors go into choosing a paediatrician! glad I don't have any kids yet!

Reply
Patricia Martin link
7/28/2019 01:13:25 pm

You have a great list here. I wish I had access to it when we had our daughter. We did visit the doctor before she was born to make sure we liked him.

Reply
Alexandra Cook
7/29/2019 07:04:07 pm

Choosing a pedia is really important because they will be your partner as your kids growing and it is good to know that or kids is in good hands.

Reply
David Elliott link
7/29/2019 07:07:41 pm

Given how many issues I have had with doctors, having an access to a second opinion is essential I think. I don't think if I were told something I would completely trust the first thing I heard all the time, especially for life altering decisions.

Reply
Peachy link
7/31/2019 06:16:25 pm

A informative and carefully thought list. All parents and soon to be parents should read this. We were lucky to have a doctor in the family.

Reply
Kate S.
8/6/2019 07:09:35 am

There's a lot of good, solid advice here... I wish I'd seen it before I started looking around for my daughter's doc. I was lucky and found "the right" one on the second try, but first try would have been better. :-)

Reply
Ron Booker link
1/15/2020 02:19:31 pm

My sister recently moved to a new area with her family and she needs to find a quality pediatrician for her two children. You make a great point that you should choose a doctor who is board certified because this shows that they have adequate knowledge and training. I think it would be good if she consults with her top three choices so that her children can meet them and see if they get along well.

Reply
Charlotte Fleet link
4/5/2021 05:55:33 pm

Thanks for your suggestion to schedule a consultation with potential pediatricians to make sure they are reliable. My husband and I are hoping to find a great pediatrician for our two daughters. We will make sure to meet with anyone in person before we consider choosing them for our kids.

Reply
Erika Brady link
10/14/2021 12:26:02 pm

Thanks for explaining the different policies to look at when choosing a pediatrician. Next month, my nephew turns one. His parents want to find him a good pediatrician.

Reply
kate hansen link
11/3/2021 05:18:02 pm

It was really helpful when you said to know what their wait time is. My sister was telling me last night about how she is wanting to find a pediatrician for her baby before she is born, and that she wants to make sure that she can find the right one. I'll make sure to pass these tips along to her as she searches for a pediatrician for her baby girl.

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