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Tips on Choosing a
Pediatrician for Your Child
Finding the right pediatrician is not always an easy task.
Many managed-care plans limit your choices. Furthermore,
many families will live in several different towns before
their children are grown up, making it necessary to choose a
new
pediatrician more than once.
But once you locate a pediatrician that makes both you and
your children feel at ease, you'll know the effort was worth
it.
Start by asking friends for names, checking with local
hospitals or going to the American Academy of Pediatrics Web
site, www.aap.org . If you
are moving, ask your current pediatrician for a referral.
Look for the letters "FAAP" after the pediatrician's name.
This indicates that the
pediatrician has passed the American Board of Pediatrics
Exam and is now a Fellow of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
The next step is to conduct interviews with several
pediatricians. Most pediatricians do not consider it an
imposition on their time and do not charge for the visit.
"Interviewing potential pediatricians is absolutely
essential to making sure you choose the
right one for you and your children," says Dr. Carol
Berkowitz, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"Interviewing allows parents to get a sense of a
pediatrician's accessibility, personality and philosophy of
practice."
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents
ask the following questions.
* Is the pediatrician accepting new patients? Is he or she
covered by your insurance or managed-care plan?
* What are the office hours?
* Is emergency coverage available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week?
* Is the pediatrician available by phone or e-mail? If so,
when?
* Does the practice have an after-hours answering service?
Is that service linked to a university or children's
hospital?
* Where are patients referred after hours?
* Is there access to pediatric specialists, if needed?
* What hospital does the pediatrician prefer to use?
* How does the office handle billing and insurance claims?
Is payment due at the time of the visit?
* If your child has special medical needs, ask about the
practice's overall orientation and philosophy about caring
for special-needs children. Can it provide the support you
need to
coordinate medical care for your child?
A family's relationship with its pediatrician can be a
lasting and rewarding one. That's why it's worth taking the
extra time to find a pediatrician that is a good fit for you
and your children.
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