How to Find A Good Pediatrician
By Steven P. Shelov, M.D., M.S. (Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Maimonides Medical Center; Professor of Pediatrics at S.U.N.Y. Health Science Center, Brooklyn, New York) for Your Baby Today
During the last trimester of pregnancy, many parents-to-be start thinking
about choosing a pediatrician for their baby. The idea of finding the right
doctor -- one who possesses all of the qualities and necessary qualifications
to help you care for your child -- can seem like a daunting task. But before you
get overwhelmed, remember that pediatricians are committed to helping parents raise
healthy children with the greatest possible ease, comfort, pleasure and success.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of board-certified
pediatricians, prides itself in having superb children's doctors as its
members. A pediatrician who is certified by the American Board of
Pediatrics will have will have graduated from medical school after four years,
received three years of training in pediatrics as a pediatric resident, and
passed the American Board of Pediatrics written examination.
One of the best people to ask for a pediatrician referral is your
obstetrician. During and following a delivery, obstetricians and
pediatricians must interact to oversee the care of both the mother and baby.
Other moms in your neighborhood can also be a good source for referrals
since they can relate their personal experiences.
Because you're looking for a doctor whose style and availability matches
your own expectations, you should try and meet with various candidates for a
brief informational interview. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- What hospital are you affiliated with? It's important that you feel
comfortable with this hospital in case your child must go there to be
treated for an illness or in an emergency situation.
- What are the costs of care? Find out which services are covered by
insurance which ones aren't.
- How available are you by phone? The pediatrician you choose should be easy
to reach and provide covering doctors when she can't be contacted.
- What are routine child-care checks and when are they scheduled? The AAP
recommends checkups by one month, and at two four, six, nine, twelve,
fifteen, and twenty-four months.
In addition to the above questions, interviewing one or more
pediatricians gives you the opportunity to meet the staff, check out the
offices, and get a sense of a pediatricianŐs personality and style -- all
important factors to consider before selecting a doctor that will care for
your child.
Also see:
• Creating a sick day plan
• Baby safety checklist
Mike Kelly is a Pediatric Intensivist at Maimonides Medical Center, an Infants and Children's Hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.
