Finding the Right Pediatrician

The right pediatrician will keep your child healthy and you happy. The wrong pediatrician can wreak havoc on a new mom’s self-esteem. Waddling in and out of various pediatricians’ offices while pregnant may not sound like fun now, yet the best time to locate a good pediatrician is before your baby is born.

What to look for:

You’re going to have a relationship with this person for a long time. It’s them you’ll be calling at 3 a.m. in a panic when your baby has a fever. They need to be both competent and personable. You want someone “accessible” with whom you “can talk about medical topics in a down-to-earth, non-worrisome way,” according to pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Sauer.

Mom Tip: “The best pediatrician is the one you trust, feel comfortable with, feel they know you and your child, and will spend time with you.” Anthea Brosnan, Leavenworth Parents as Teachers.

Your pediatrician will likely become a trusted resource for questions about social development, discipline and general child rearing. “In years past, parents would talk to their own parents about those items, but as many people don’t live near their immediate families, new parents look to pediatricians for their advice” says Dr. Sauer.

Give thought to support staff also. If you get bad vibes from the receptionist or nurse, you might want to keep looking.

Do you really want to deal with that every time?

How to find a pediatrician:

Good old fashioned word of mouth is still the best way to go. I knew no one when I moved to Kansas (4 months pregnant). That didn’t stop me from asking around about local pediatricians. If you don’t have any friends with children and you’re not into accosting random strangers for information, try asking your OB or GP for recommendations. Call your insurance agency, they’ll let you know who is on their list of approved docs and often clue you to who’s popular.

How to evaluate them:

Schedule a free new mom consult with potential pediatricians. Dr. Sauer suggests you focus on medical educational background, years in practice, number of partners and accessibility to patients. Figure out what’s most important to you (personality, proximity, availability, accessibility, schooling, specialties, etc.) and list out some questions. Here’s a starting point:

Ask the doctor:

How long have you been practicing?

Do you have any sub-specialties?

What if my baby gets sick when the office is closed? Who covers in an emergency?

Is this a solo or group practice? If it’s solo, who covers when you are gone? If it’s a group, will we consistently see you?

Do you respond to e-mailed questions?

If I leave a message, how long does it usually take you to return calls?

Is there a nurse I can call for routine and non-emergency questions?

What hospitals do you work with?

Where do I have to go for lab tests?

Will your initial meeting with my baby be at the hospital or here? What is your well-baby check-up schedule?

Will you discuss my child’s general growth issues, like discipline and social development?

Do you have strong opinions regarding breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, circumcision, sleep solutions, antibiotics, holistic remedies or immunizations?

Ask the staff:

Do you take my insurance? Do you charge for advice calls during the day or after hours? Medication refills? Filling out forms? What other fees apply?

What are your policies for insurance claims, payments and billing?

How long is the wait for appointments?

What are your hours? Evenings? Weekends? Walk-ins?

Do you offer same-day sick appointments?

Ask yourself:

Did you feel comfortable?

Were their offices/rooms clean?

Was the waiting room environment kid friendly?

Were there separate sick and well waiting rooms?

Did the doctor and staff seem open to your questions?

Did you feel rushed or bothersome?

Was there a long wait for the interview appointment?

Pediatrician Tip: “If you have an interview appointment with the doctor and he/she is late, you should be concerned. Also, listen to what you hear while waiting. Take note of what other patients have to say about the office. The doctor should sit down while talking to you and answer your questions thoroughly and completely. Observe if the staff seems stressed, anxious or nervous.” Dr. Sauer

For the do-it-yourselfers:

As a new parent, it is often hard to tell just how sick your baby is. Having a trusted pediatrician already lined up, access to a nurse on call, your pediatrician’s pager number or a reputable online or written reference relieves stress.

There are many helpful website including www.Childrens-Mercy.org, www.CDC.gov and www.AAP.org. Dr. Sauer also recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Caring for your Baby and Young Child Birth to Age 5. “It’s the only ‘owner’s manual’ for raising children!!”

A transplant from Australia, Victoria Pressley is a military spouse, stay-at-home mom and aspiring picture book writer in Leavenworth.