Tips for Selecting a Physician
When and How to Start Looking
Your search for a health care provider should begin well before your baby's due date. You may also be new to the area, and looking for a pediatrician for older children. It is important to find a pediatrician you are comfortable with, and you may have a set of your own personal preferences or physicians who are covered by your health plan.
Compile a list of candidates from people you trust — your relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers who share your parenting philosophies. Your doctor, obstetrician, or nurse-midwife can also be a good source for recommendations.
If you've recently moved to a new area, you may not have personal or social connections established to ask for referrals. In this case, you may want to contact area hospitals. You also can request a list of board-certified pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and board-certified family physicians from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Once you have some recommendations, check them out more thoroughly.
Now you're ready to begin the interview process. Considering that this doctor will be the first to treat your baby, you'll want to be sure that you're comfortable with the doctor's personality, office staff, location, and environment. A prenatal appointment is an excellent opportunity for parents to ask questions and get acquainted with the office staff.
During the interview, you should find out how the practice works by addressing these topics:
- What are the office hours? Flexibility of the doctor's schedule may be a concern.
- If it's a group practice, ask about the qualifications of the other doctors in the office. Who will see your child if your doctor is on vacation or otherwise unavailable?
- Which hospitals is your doctor affiliated with? If your baby needs to be hospitalized, who will provide care there?
- Will the doctor handle emergencies or will your child be referred to an emergency room or urgent care center? Are these facilities equipped to handle pediatric emergencies?
- What are the doctor's credentials? Where did they do their training? Have they been board certified in their field of expertise?
What the Doctor's Office Should Be Like
The interview is a great time to observe office procedures. Check out the reception area; how many patients are waiting? More than a handful may mean overbooking or it could mean the doctor is spending extra time with a patient who needs it. Is there a place where sick kids can be separated from those in for a well visit? Is the area clean and child-friendly? Is the staff polite and considerate to patients in the waiting room and to people on the phone?
While you're waiting, talk to other parents to determine whether they're satisfied with the care. Is their child comfortable with the doctor? Do the parents feel confident the doctor is thorough and competent? The overall atmosphere in the waiting area will give you a good idea what the practice is like.
The Doctor's Personality
Another important aspect of the interview is getting a feel for the doctor's personality. Does he or she see parents as partners in a child's care? Is he or she patient and willing to explain things carefully? Do you get the impression the doctor would be supportive if you requested a second opinion? Are the doctor's age and gender important issues to you?
Good communication between a doctor and parent is essential to building a good working relationship. Is the doctor is a good listener who seems responsive to your concerns? Are you comfortable asking questions or do you feel intimidated?
