In addition to being a good communicator, the doctor should treat you like a partner in your child's health care by explaining diagnostic procedures, test results and medications, and by answering your questions. When you've narrowed your list to two or three pediatricians, schedule a get-acquainted appointment to evaluate their personal manner. Some pediatricians won't charge for an interview visit, others will. It's a good idea to ask about these charges first. You and your spouse should go alone to this first visit unless your child is a teenager.
Some doctors separate some time for telephone consultations.
Others take or return calls whenever they are able to. Some even have two separate waiting rooms. Some doctors manage large practices by delegating routine tasks to Nurse Practitioners. NPs generally have a master's degree and are permitted to give physical exams, order and interpret tests and manage common illnesses. In some states, they are even permitted to write prescriptions.