Top Questions For Choosing a Pediatrician
Beautiful photography courtesy of April Davidson Bly Photography
It can be difficult to anticipate the needs of the right pediatrician for your family when you're expecting and haven't had any issues arise yet to discuss. So what are some of the ways to determine how a practice operates and how you feel about their policies? Below are a list of insightful ways to gather information when interviewing a variety of pediatrician groups or practitioners and feel confident in your selection!
The Basics:
Do you accept my insurance?
What are your hours of operation?
How many doctors practice in your office?
Do you offer 24/7 on call service?
Who does triage for your office?
Can I speak to the on-call doctor directly without having to go through triage if desired?
Do you share on-call with other doctors?
When is the best time to handle routine questions?
Do you provide guidelines for questions which should be asked in person vs. by calling the office?
Does your office handle billing or do I need to submit the claims?
Birth Related Logistics:
What are your philosophies regarding child rearing?
General sleep training beliefs?
What is your hospital preference?
Do you have privileges at our birthing hospital?
Do you have privileges at our local Children’s Specialty Hospital?
How soon after birth will you see our baby(ies)?
When do you prefer babies to leave the hospital after birth?
When will our baby’s first office exam take place?
Can I contact you by email?
Are emails directed to a nurse?
Well visits:
Do we get to see our primary doctor or must we see all in the practice?
What is your well baby schedule?
What are your immunization recommendations?
How do you handle referrals to specialists?
What are your thoughts/recommendations regarding circumcision?
Gaining answers can help you find the best practice for your family's support during the childhood years!
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