Pediatrics: How to Choose a Pediatrician for Your Child

By Michele Blandino

As expectant parents await the birth of their first child, they will do many things to prepare for the big arrival. They will shop for furniture, clothing, and other supplies. They will probably prepare the nursery, buy some toys and other paraphernalia such as baby monitors, car seats and bouncer seats. And, they will choose a pediatrician.

While many books strongly recommend that you interview several doctors before choosing one, many people usually make their selection based on the recommendation of friends and family members. However, because this may not be practical in some cases, you may find it necessary to go through the interview process.

The Interview

Many people are intimidated by doctors or feel like they are wasting the physician’s time by asking them for an interview. However, it’s important to remember that the doctor you choose will, in effect, be a partner in your child’s growth and development. As a result, it is crucial that you are comfortable with the doctor.  Taking the time to meet with the physician for a one-on-one conversation is one of the best ways to determine if you have made the right choice.

Interviewing the Physician

One of the first things you should ask a physician is why they decided to become a pediatrician. In their response, you should look for a genuine love of children and an interest in helping to ensure that the children he or she treats grow into strong, healthy adults.

If you have a preference regarding issues such as breastfeeding and immunizations, now is the time to ask. Clearly, if you and the pediatrician are not on the same page regarding important issues such as these, your relationship is not likely to be a good one.

During the course of your interview, you should be mindful of the doctor’s overall demeanor; is he or she distracted or appear to be rushed? If that’s the case, you can almost be assured that this will be the demeanor that will be brought into the examination room. Be sure to ask the doctor how much time is typically allotted for each patient visit. The doctor should be able to give you some sense of how much time they can spend with you. If you are given a vague answer, then perhaps this isn’t the doctor for you or your child.

Observe the Staff

While most pediatricians are more than willing to take the time to meet with expectant parents, they may do so only before or after regular office hours. If this is the case with the pediatrician you are considering, plan to make a return visit during regular office hours so that you can better observe the office environment. Use this time to speak to the receptionist or office manager about the office policies. Some of the things you will be interested in knowing are:

• The type of insurance the office accepts
• The typical wait time
• Are there specific hours during which only well-visits are scheduled?
• Does the office have a process for fielding telephone calls from parents who have questions? Who takes these calls – a doctor or a nurse?

As you speak with the staff member, try to be mindful of what is going on around you. Does the staff seem to be rushed or is the environment relaxed? Are the people who answer the phones pleasant and helpful or abrupt? Remember, in the end you will likely be spending just as much time dealing with the office’s staff as you will with the doctor, so it’s important that you are comfortable with them.

And finally, remember that if things don’t work out, you are always free to choose another physician for your child.