Building a Partnership With Your Pediatrician
By: Deb Fein
Tags: Pediatricians, Healthcare, Baby, Family

As a mother, I’ve had relationships with pediatricians both positive and negative. Most had been positive. My first pediatrician I had interviewed while pregnant, and he was great. After some time, I moved to a new area. A neighbor had recommended a particular doctor whose office was nearby. The most difficult part of dealing with this doctor was lack of communication. I moved onto someone much better, someone I could work with.

An effective pediatrican takes into account “ that the family is the child’s primary source of strength and support. Families have expertise when it comes to their own children, and bring unique perspectives and information that make them integral partners of the health care team (AAP, 2012). Interestingly the American Academy of Pediatrics further recommends several core principles for pediatric practices: a)to listen and respect a child, and family, including a family’s cultural background and experience into care; b) allow enough flexibility in the practices policies, procedures, and practices to tailor care to the patient, family culture, and beliefs; c)to provide complete honest information to patients and families as much as they wish and in ways that are easily understandable; d)work as partners to families at all levels of care from their own care to evaluating the practice (AAP, 2012).

St. Joseph’s Health recommends asking the following seven questions before choosing the doctor. They are as follows:

Does the doctor respect your parenting style and beliefs about medical care? If the doctor has different beliefs that’s okay, as long as they respect yours and there is mutual respect. The doctor must value your choices when it comes to medication, vaccinations, sleep habits, discipline, breastfeeding and circumcision. What is the doctor’s communication style and is it similar to yours? A doctor who listens and makes sure your questions are answered is a gem. It is impeative that a pediatrician clearly explains illnesses and treatments in an understandable way. Also, you would want a doctor who answers phone calls, so make sure you ask about that. Is there access to 24/7 care beyond the doctor’s regular office hours? Children don’t always get sick during regular office hours. Will it be necessary to visit an urgent care or emergency room, especially if an accident occurs? Its important to know what the plan is for health care twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty five days a year. Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with? This is important to know in case the child(ren) need specialized care, or is admitted to the emergency room. If you have negative or positive feelings about a particular hospital, you need to know which hospital your doctor is associated with. What is your overall assessment of the pediatrician? Does the doctor show interest in your child? Does he show compassion and patience? Are you given the time and attention to get your questions answered or do you feel rushed out of the office? This can only occur after you have the baby, but watch how the doctor interacts with him or her. What about the doctor’s office staff? Look at such factors as the office staff making eye contact (or not). How long do you need to wait to be seen? Does the waiting room look neat and kid-friendly? Check out the cleanliness of the bathrooms and examination rooms. These are important factors. What is your gut feeling? Sometimes it boils down to whether you feel a positive connection with the doctor (or not). Would you feel more comfortable of a certain sex or age? When my sons grew older, I definitely wanted a male doctor, so that they would not feel uncomfortable when undressed. A doctor who has a good sense of humor can be helpful unless they go overboard with it. Choosing a doctor who you and your child feel comfortable with is most important.

Debralynn Fein

References:

Bartlett, C. (2017), 7 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Pediatrician: Straight Talk From A Physician Mom, CA: St Joseph Health.

American Association of Pediatrics (2012), Engaging Patients and Families, What is Youth and Family Centered Care?

I reference this issue in one of my novels, Aaron and Me, Works In Progress.