Lots of anxieties arrive before the delivery of a new baby. Will she be healthy? How much and how often should she eat? How much sleep will he need? What should we do about immunizations? And what if I have a question or problem in the middle of the night? The best way to head off worry – and get answers you can trust – is to find the right pediatrician from the get-go. Most baby doctors are happy to meet with expecting moms and dads well before the arrival of your infant.
By asking these 5 questions, you can easily find a physician who’s the right fit for your family:
What sort of training does the doctor have?
When it comes to caring for kids, not all doctors are created equally. Your best bet is a pediatrician who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. This ensures your doctor has completed an accredited training program with a significant breadth and depth of pediatric experience. This also guarantees your doctor has passed a grueling competency exam and is dedicated to keeping up-to-date with continuing medical education. You can check to see if a doctor is certified on this website.
But what if a board-certified pediatrician is not available in your area? Or what if the only one around doesn’t feel quite right? Family doctors can be great too, especially if they have sought out well-rounded pediatric experiences during their training and are dedicated to keeping up with the latest advances in pediatric medicine.
What are the office hours, and what do we do when the office is closed?
Well check-ups may be scheduled in advance, but there’s no planning when your child will be sick or injured. The longer the office hours at your doctor’s practice, the better the chance your child can be seen on short notice. How are same-day appointments handled? Is the office open in the evenings? What about weekends? And the question on every new parent’s mind: how do I get help when the office is closed?
Who will see my child?
Many parents are surprised when they’re asked to see a different doctor for same-day sick appointments. Others are taken off guard when their child’s well check-up is scheduled with a nurse practitioner. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, if your doctor trusts his partners, you should too.
At the same time, it’s nice to know exactly how the office runs so you don’t encounter surprises. Most importantly, you want to make sure there aren’t any roadblocks to asking your doctor questions – or getting his or her opinion – even when seeing a different practitioner.
What is the doctor’s stance on immunizations?
The bulk of scientific evidence strongly supports the notion that the benefits of immunizations greatly outweigh the risks. Having said that, many parents have questions about shots or concerns regarding the childhood immunization schedule. You want a doctor who will take the time to consider your concerns and provide the answers you need. If you are looking to skip immunizations or use an alternative vaccination schedule (which I don’t recommend), you’ll want to be certain of your prospective doctor’s views on following this path before a conflict arises.
Is the doctor plugged-in to social media?
Increasingly, this is becoming an important consideration for many parents. Does the doctor field questions by email? Is there a practice website with answers to commonly asked questions? What about a Facebook page or Twitter account? Some physicians embrace social media, while others stay as far away as possible. If you are connected, chances are you’d appreciate a socially-savvy doctor.
At the end of the day, you’ll probably find several pediatricians in your area who feel like a good fit. So how do you choose among them? Of course, you should take into account referrals and reviews from family and friends. But the best advice is to go with your gut. Which one best matches your personality? Which one could you imagine inviting to sit down at your dinner table? Most breakdowns in communication between doctor and parent happen because of differing personalities and world views. Finding one who matches yours is the best way to ensure a long and fruitful relationship.
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Dr. Mike is an emergency medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and host of PediaCast, a pediatric podcast for moms and dads. Each week, PediaCast covers news parents can use, answers listener questions, and delivers interviews with pediatric experts on a variety of topics. Dr. Mike is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he serves as a faculty adviser for medical students. On the home front, he is married with two kids: a college-aged daughter and a son in high school. He learned to walk with roller skates on his feet, and his first job (age 10) was as a disc jockey at his hometown roller skating rink. He has also worked as a DJ at two radio stations, experiences which further prepared him to host a podcast!
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