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Choosing a Pediatrician                                             (what you need to think about)

1/18/2017

8 Comments

 
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​When I was a new mama I had no idea what I should be looking for in a pediatrician.

I simply looked at degrees, was the staff friendly, and did the office have accommodating hours, etc.  This is the checklist that most every online source will tell you to go through, but they are leaving out the really important things.  I am here to share that after working with a few pediatricians over the years, some good, some not-so-much, I have gleaned some insight that would have been invaluable those first few years when I had no idea what I was doing.
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Here are some secrets you should think about before trying to interview, yes I did say interview, your new care provider. 
​Keep this little tidbit in mind; you are hiring your care provider...

Many of us don’t truly think about our medical care in this manner but it is a fact.  Whether you have private insurance, you pay out of pocket, use assistance, or some other means, you are choosing who gets the dough.  If you can look at it as you are hiring a professional to provide guidance and expertise that you don’t have... the necessity of choosing well is infinitely clearer. 

For instance, if you were building a house you wouldn’t just choose the first architect you found advertised, this is someone who will be building the place your family will call home so you would do a lot to find a good fit.  We often don’t think this way when choosing our medical professionals but they too have such an important job that we need to think about if they are worth “hiring.”

First off....what kind of parent are you?

This may seem like a very silly question but it is incredibly important in your choice of a pediatrician.  You really need to take stock in your own personality, your intuition, and your driving factors.

Are you the kind of person who likes to clearly learn and understand what is going on, or do you just prefer to be told what to do with a checklist to mark off?  Do you like to be able to give input or do you just prefer to be told what to do?  Do you want the parent/provider relationship to be one of authority, one of mutual cooperation, one of teacher/student, or a mix of some of these types of relationships? 
Also, how confident are you in your own abilities and gut instincts?

How do you view the pediatrician’s role?

Do you view the role of your child’s doctor to be that of complete authority on your child (keeping in mind that they are experts in their field, but not experts about your individual child). 
Do you view the role as that of educator, one that should teach you, or one that should also value your input? 

Once you have identified the role you want the pediatrician to play it is time for the hunt.  Most offices and doctors will tell you that they are a mix of the types of doctors mentioned above; however, my experience has been that there is always a dominating characteristic...authoritarian; companion, educator and that definitely will influence how you receive your pediatrician’s information. 

Hiring your child’s pediatrician may take time

You are seeking someone to provide guidance and knowledge for an extended contract ,therefore, a simple one time visit may not be sufficient.  It is more ideal to actually plan that the first few visits are still part of the process.  You can go to a few well child visits before making your ultimate decision, no harm done.  If you go to a visit and start to see characteristics you don’t like or the relationship doesn’t feel comfortable, simply make your next appointment elsewhere and ask for your records to be transferred. 

Ideally, whatever your philosophy, your pediatrician should hear what you are saying and value your input in your child’s health care plan.  Your doctor sees your child in small increments, 20 minutes or so, but you see your child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You know your child.
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The bottom line is when the time comes that your child is really sick, requires a surgery or hospital stay of any kind, you want to be sure you have the right pediatrician coordinating your care.

Related Posts:
9 Things a New Baby Will Teach  You
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8 Comments
Earnest Watkins link
1/18/2018 01:30:06 pm

It was interesting to me that you suggest multiple visits before deciding on a pediatrician to choose for your child. This is good to know though since I think choosing a pediatrician isn't a decision to be taken lightly. If multiple visits helps you feel more comfortable with your choice, then it would be worth the time to do it in my opinion.

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essay editing service australia link
4/24/2018 05:30:17 pm

these days pediatricians are mandatory. i have evaluated it after reading multiple writeups which has made me realize where i am lacking. thanks to the creators.

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Jocelyn McDonald link
3/19/2019 12:29:17 pm

My husband and I are about to have our first child, and we want to find a good doctor we can take our baby to after she's born. Your article had some great tips for choosing a doctor like this, and I liked how you said to consider if we want a pediatrician who will educate us but also value our input. Thanks; we'll keep this in mind when choosing a pediatrician.

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Amy Winters link
9/27/2019 04:39:23 pm

It's great that you elaborated on finding a pediatrician that values your role as a parent. Recently, I found out I was pregnant with my first child, and I have no idea what I am looking for for our newborn. I appreciate you helping me learn more about the roles of a pediatrician and how important it is for me to find someone I respect and who respects me as a parent.

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rachel frampton link
9/10/2020 03:41:49 am

I'm planning to look for a pediatrician that will be able to attend to my newborn son's medical needs. Well, I agree with you that it would be best to check if the staff are friendly and accommodating in my prospective facility. You're also right about the importance of hiring someone who is an educator and good communicator.

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kate hansen link
2/26/2021 03:02:54 pm

It was really helpful when you said to find out what role you want the pediatrician to play before you go to find one. My cousin was telling me yesterday afternoon about how she is needing to find a pediatrician for her baby, and she wants to make sure that she can find the right one. I'll make sure to pass this information along to her as she searches for a pediatrician to help!

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Erika Brady link
5/20/2021 03:39:34 pm

Last night, my cousin's little boy came down with a pretty high fever. It hasn't gone away yet, so my cousin wants to get him to a doctor. She's new to the area and needs to find one. Thanks for explaining that pediatricians can provide input and also educate her on how to care for her little boy to keep him healthy.

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Arnold link
10/19/2021 02:47:01 am

I like to take care of my health, both physical and mental. To avoid deficiencies, I had to adopt a balanced diet and above all use a specific food supplement. It is on this article that I found the product that allowed me to relive and enjoy optimal well-being without health concerns.

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    Wife to a wonderful husband, Daughter of the King, Mother of 6 (one with an xtra chromosome), and an incidental farm girl.

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