Choosing A Pediatrician
One of the most important decisions parents will make is choosing a doctor for their baby. You will want to take into account many determining factors before you decide who will be responsible for your baby’s care and well being.
It is recommended that you and your spouse interview several pediatricians before you make a decision. As with any major decision you make it is important that you have all the information you can and the more doctors you speak to the more informed you will be about their expertise. Simply relying on one source is never a good idea and with the care of your baby you will want to be sure that he is getting the best care possible.
When you go into an interview with a pediatrician you should have a list of questions prepared so you can be sure to cover all the important factors. Sometimes during a conversation you can lose focus and having the key questions in front of you will allow you to steer the interview towards your immediate needs.
Some things to consider asking when you go into an interview include: how much the hospital charges for visits and if there are any fees associated with pediatric visits; do they charge for phone calls; how often does the specialist want to see the baby in the first year; is there a pediatric nurse practitioner in the office who can handle basic check-ups and common illnesses; and what is the average length of an appointment.
You will have your own specific questions too but covering the basics is always a good idea. Another important question to ask is if the pediatrician has evening or weekend hours. Today many families need both parents working to make ends meet so taking time out during weekdays is not always possible. Knowing a pediatrician is available week nights and weekends is very important and may be a deciding factor in the choice you make.