I have read many articles on "how to choose a pediatrician" and they all cover similar ground. You are having a new baby and there are a number of pediatricians or groups of pediatricians in your area and you have to pick one to see your baby in the hospital. You want the best, but you don't know who that might be. There is usually a list of questions to ask these doctors as you make your choice.
But what these articles don't usually discuss is that this is a long term, usually over twenty years, relationship that requires as much compatibility as a computer dating service might strive for. It's a relationship that requires trust, mutual respect, and communication. For the next 21 years, you will share many ups and downs with this person as you travel together down the parenting road.
So let's talk about the starting points in this process. You have a list and you have to narrow this down. Unfortunately today, insurance issues narrow your choices. So first get a list of the doctors covered by your insurance plan. Call those offices to verify that the doctor is still on the plan, since printed lists often lag behind a rapidly shifting situation. Also ask if the doctor is accepting new patients.
The next thing you need to research is competence. The best person to ask is your obstetrician. They usually know every pediatrician in town and on staff at the hospital. And they know who the good doctors are. Never ask who is the best. You want someone who has an excellent reputation and often that will apply to several doctors. And don't just look up those "best doctor" lists in magazines. They often do not include many very well respected doctors.
Hospital affiliation is also important. You want a pediatrician who is affiliated with a children's hospital. If there is not one close to where you live, your pediatrician should have some relationship with the nearest one in your state. This ensures that your baby or child will be able to get the best care in a critical situation.
Once availability, competence, and hospital affiliation are established, you have a smaller list to work from. Many practices have websites or brochures that can answer many of the practical and logistical questions: ie. office hours, call-in policy for questions, who covers when your doctor is not available, will you be assigned one doctor as your primary, where are children seen on weekend and evenings if they are sick. Is there a separate waiting area for sick children. ( but remember that some kids are sick when they come in for their check ups!) Many websites now give biographies of all the doctors as well as a description of the philosophy of the practice.
The next best step in researching a practice is to visit the office and see it for yourself. You can often get a good feel for how the office runs by sitting in the waiting room and observing how the staff treats the patients. It should be a warm and supportive environment that also allows for privacy. In other words, staff shouldn't be shouting things to patients through a glass window where everyone can hear. See if what you observe feels right for you.
Next make an appointment to meet the doctor. There may be a charge for this prenatal visit, but it is a good way to see if you are compatible with this person who will become very important to you as a parent. At this visit you can discuss some important topics such as breastfeeding vs. bottle -feeding, concerns about immunization safety, circumcision, and the controversy surrounding the new sleep guidelines for infants. I suggest these topics because from the discussion, you will get a feeling for how rigid or flexible the doctor is in his or her thinking about controversial issues. Does the doctor ask you what you think and then listen to your answer or does he or she offer only one opinion and does not really discuss the issue.
Once you have made your decision and you start seeing a doctor in a practice, you may realize that this relationship is not working for you and your spouse. You may have concerns about the practice or the covering doctors. If you cannot resolve these issues by first discussing them with your doctor, you can make a change. Patients do transfer to other doctors (sometimes within a practice) and all doctors know this. What is most important to a pediatrician is that you are happy in the relationship with your doctor and that the baby is well cared for. And they understand that sometimes this means another doctor.
Over the twenty years I spent in practice, I formed many wonderful relationships with the parents of my patients as we faced all the challenges of parenting together, as well as the challenges of life. I learned from all of them and enjoyed watching their children grow into young adults. So as you select a pediatrician, do your research, meet the doctors, make a change if necessary, and understand that this relationship is one of the most important you will have as a parent.
About the Author
Dr. Mary Ann LoFrumento, MD, F.A.A.P., pediatrician, mother and author, has more than 20 years experience answering parents' questions about how to raise their children. She recently launched Simply Parenting, a book and DVD series designed to end parents' anxiety and insecurity and bring parenting back to basics.
