Choosing a Pediatrician
Pediatricians are doctors who are specialized to take care of children from birth through adolescence and early adulthood. We are trained specifically to recognize and identify developmental delays, difficulties with learning and behavior, common and uncommon diseases and syndromes that affect children. A very important part of caring for your child is selecting a Pediatrician.
There is a commonly used phrase in Pediatrics:
Children are not small adults!
They grow differently, act differently, process medications differently, and encounter illness and diseases differently. It makes sense, then, that they should have a doctor focused specifically on them and has been trained to identify these differences.
Some things to think about when selecting a Pediatrician for your child:
- Recommendations. Your family and/or friends can be a great resource in choosing a Pediatrician.
- Credentials. Board certified Pediatricians have taken the extra step in becoming credentialed by the American Board of Pediatrics.
- Office location. While some people do not mind traveling longer distances to see a doctor they love, keep in mind that infants have frequent appointments for the first year. Children in general are seen for illnesses much more frequently than adults.
- Office policies on vaccines. Some practices do not see patients who are not vaccinated, some will require Refusal to Vaccinate forms to be signed by parents, some do not have any policies at all. If the issue is important to you, find out ahead of time how your chosen practice handles vaccine refusal.
- Insurance coverage. This question is best answered by the front desk or the billing office of the clinic. They will be able to give you details regarding your insurance and if it is accepted by the office.
A good relationship between doctor and patient and parent is essential to the health of your growing child. Make sure the Pediatrician you choose is someone you feel you can trust, feel comfortable asking questions of and discussing your child with, and enjoy seeing on a regular basis.
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