As the parent of a child with severe or chronic illness, you are your child's best health care advocate. One of the most important considerations for your child's health care is choosing the right specialist. Yet you and your company may have different ideas about who the best specialist is for your child. The following information can help you make an informed decision when selecting a specialist and, if necessary, help you communicate concerns and questions to your insurance company. All doctors are not the same.
Some doctors are specialists who receive advanced training in one specific area of medicine.
Doctors may treat adults primarily, or they can be pediatricians who treat only children. Understanding the differences between these types of doctors and choosing who is most qualified to treat your children are part of your responsibility as your child's health advocate. A small percentage of children have more serious health problems and require referral to a specialist. Usually a general practitioner, pediatrician, or family doctor will refer a child to a pediatric specialist who is the most qualified doctor to care for children with serious or complex medical problems. Sometimes, depending on the problem, a child will be referred to a specialist who treats both children and adults.