Pediatrician

How to choose a pediatrician for your child

Choosing a pediatrician for your child requires much consideration because the child-parent-doctor relationship lasts from babyhood until adolescence.

Who is a pediatrician?

He or she is a doctor who has specialized medical training caringfor babies, children and adolescents. There are general pediatric specialists as well as those who are specialized in such fields as cardiology,neurology, neurosurgery, gastroenteritis, developmental experts etc.

Your general practitioner manages many childhood conditions, however, he will refer you to a specialist for your child when necessary. Provided your child is not rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, you will have plenty of time to choose your own Doctor. Here are some of the issues for you to consider:

How to find apediatrician?

Even though your GP may refer you to a particular Doctor, you will want to ask around. Often the best way is through wordof mouth from other parents, friends or family. You could also do a Google Search for those practicing in your region, as well as do a check regarding their experience, specialty and research.

Location of practice?

Check the distance to his or her rooms from your home or work?Is there easy public transport? Is there a car park nearby? What are the hours of practice? Who covers over the weekends, after-hours or for emergency back up?

Type of practice?

Is it a solo or a group practice where there is a mix of recentlytrained Doctors with the latest knowledge, as well as olderpractitioners with many years of experience? Are there both male and female doctors and do you have a personal preference? Whatlanguages do they speak? Does he or she have special privileges at the hospital covered in your Health Plan?
What is the fee structure?

Little things which tell you about the general management of thepractice and their concern for patients are:

How old are the magazines in the waiting room?
Are there children's books and small sized furniture?
Available drinking water?
Boxes of tissues?
What was the telephone manner of the receptionist when youmade the appointment?

Preparing for your visit.

Take pen and paper to write questions or to jot down notes. It is easy to forget information when under pressure or if your child is upset.

- Write down the reason for your visit and your concerns.
- Write down all your questions you want to ask.
- Make a list of all the medications taken by your child,both standard and alternative. Note the dose and how often itis taken.
- Notes about your child's eating habits and diet.
- Notes about your child's behavior.
- Make a list of complementary therapies.
- Take along your child's health record booklet if you haveit.

During the visit.

Many doctors now expect their patients to have used the Internet to increase their knowledge regarding disorders and illnesses. Not everything is accurate so the Doctor may ask you how much youunderstand about the disorder.

Write down anything which you believe is important or you might forget. Depending on the reason for your child to see a pediatric practitioner, you will want to understand about various treatment options, drug regimes and their side effects, future implications, referral to allied health therapies such as physiotherapist or speech/language pathologists etc.

After the visit.

How well did the Doctor communicate with both you and your child?Were your questions answered with patience and care? Do you trust his or her knowledge and skills?

If you are unhappy about the practitioner, you are able to seek asecond opinion or discuss the issues with your GP. It may be the case that the pediatrician has excellent knowledge and surgical skills but poor communication.

Ideally you are looking for someone whom you can trust with his or her knowledge and subsequent care of your child. You also want someone who communicates well with both you and your child so that each visit is as friendly and productive as possible. It is a special child-parent-doctor relationship.

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