Nationwide Children’s Hospital Search Nationwide Children’s Call Nationwide Children’s Locations Emergency Urgent Care 700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts Questions to Ask When Choosing a Pediatrician Nov 15, 2013 When you are expecting your first child, there are numerous decisions to be made. Nursery colors, diaper brands. The list seems endless. Choosing which pediatrician will care for your sweet newborn should be near the top of the list. Your pediatrician not only manages your child’s medical and developmental well-being, but he or she will likely be your best source of parenting advice and often, the voice of reason, in this crazy world of parenting. How do you choose the right person to fill this important role? Here are some questions to consider when choosing your child’s pediatrician. How Close Are They to My Home? Location is a very important factor to consider when choosing your child’s doctor. You will be going there for frequent check-ups, especially within the first year, and you don’t want to schlep across town each time you have a well-child appointment or an ill visit. Is the Doctor in a Solo or Group Practice? If They Are in a Group, How Do I Feel About Other Docs in the Group? Most physicians are in a group, and it is important for you to feel comfortable with every person of that group. For an ill visit, you may not be able to see your regular doctor, and you will want to have confidence in the medical decisions of each member of the team–not just your own pediatrician. How Are “After Hours” Questions Handled? Is It a Nurse, a Nurse Practitioner or a Doctor Answering the Phone? It is very important for you to have a way of discussing urgent concerns with someone at your pediatrician’s office at any time of the day or night. Find out how your doctor’s office handles after-hours calls. It is very reasonable to have a nurse taking the after-hours calls, but the nurse should have a way of getting in touch with the doctor or nurse practitioner if the concern warrants it. What Are Their Office Hours? Do They Have Evening and Weekend Appointments? Availability for ill visits is a must. When your child is sick, it is best to see your pediatrician or one of their partners for an ill visit (rather than an urgent care or ER), since they know your child best and have the most reliable medical information about your child. If they do not have expanded hours, it may make it difficult to get in for an ill visit. How Does Their Personality Match with Yours? Choosing a doctor is a little like matchmaking. You want someone who clicks with your style. Do you prefer more hand-holding? Do you like the matter-of-fact approach? It is best to try to meet with your potential doctors to determine whether or not you are a fit with them. It is also helpful to talk to friends. Find out why they chose their pediatrician and what they like or don’t like about their doctor. What Is the Doctor’s Stance on Hot Topics That You May Feel Strongly About (I.E. Sleep Routines, the Family Bed, Vaccines)? Pediatricians, of course, advocate for vaccines in children (and hopefully you do too–see this great post about vaccines for more information), but there are many offices that have a strict policy about vaccines, and it is important for you to be aware of this up front. What are their recommendations for successful sleep habits? If they adhere to the “cry it out” philosophy of sleep, but you are more of an attachment parenting advocate, chances are you will not click with that particular pediatrician. This is not a complete list questions, but it is a start and certainly includes some of the key topics to cover with potential pediatricians. It really boils down to confidence and trust in your pediatrician and their office staff. So, get a list of doctors from your insurance company, start calling those practices, and check one more thing off your to do list. Looking for Answers to More Parenting Questions? Sign-Up for Our Health e-Hints Newsletter Share This Page: on Facebook on Twitter on Email on Print Previous Next Featured Expert Heather Battles, MD Emergency Medicine Dr. Heather Battles starts her days as a mom of four and ends them as an urgent care physician for Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Westerville Close To Home clinic. 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PA-C Courtney Hall, CPNP-PC Courtney Porter, RN, MS Crystal Milner Curt Daniels, MD Cynthia Holland-Hall, MD, MPH Dana Lenobel, FNP Dana Noffsinger, CPNP-AC Dane Snyder, MD Daniel Coury, MD Daniel DaJusta, MD Daniel Herz, MD Danielle Peifer, PT, DPT David A Wessells, PT, MHA David Axelson, MD David Stukus, MD Dean Lee, MD, PhD Debbie Terry, NP Deborah Hill, LSW Deborah Zerkle, LMT Deena Chisolm, PhD Deipanjan Nandi, MD MSc Denis King, MD Denise Ell Dennis Cunningham, MD Dennis McTigue, DDS Diane Lang Dominique R. Williams, MD, MPH, FAAP, Dipl ABOM Donna M. Trentel, MSA, CCLS Donna Ruch, PhD Donna Teach Doug Wolf Douglas McLaughlin, MD Drew Duerson, MD Ed Miner Edward Oberle, MD, RhMSUS Edward Shepherd, MD Eileen Chaves, PhD Elise Berlan, MD Elise Dawkins Elizabeth A. Cannon, LPCC Elizabeth Cipollone, LPCC-S Elizabeth Zmuda, DO Ellyn Hamm, MM, MT-BC Emily A. Stuart, MD Emily Decker, MD Emily Getschman Emma Wysocki, PharmD, RDN Eric Butter, PhD Eric Leighton, AT, ATC Eric Sribnick, MD, PhD Erica Domrose, RD, LD Ericca L Lovegrove, RD Erika Roberts Erin Gates, PT, DPT Erin Johnson, M.Ed., C.S.C.S. Erin Shann, BSN, RN Erin Tebben Farah W. Brink, MD Gail Bagwell, DNP, APRN, CNS Gail Besner, MD Gail Swisher, AT Garey Noritz, MD Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH Geri Hewitt, MD Gina Hounam, PhD Gina McDowell Gina Minot Grace Paul, MD Gregory D. Pearson, MD Griffin Stout, MD Guliz Erdem, MD Hailey Blosser, MA, CCC-SLP Hanna Mathess Heather Battles, MD Heather Clark Heather Yardley, PhD Henry Spiller Henry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD Herman Hundley, MS, AT, ATC, CSCS Hiren Patel, MD Homa Amini, DDS, MPH, MS Howard Jacobs, MD Hunter Wernick, DO Ibrahim Khansa, MD Ihuoma Eneli, MD Ilana Moss, PhD Ilene Crabtree, PT Irene Mikhail, MD Irina Buhimschi, MD Ivor Hill, MD Jackie Cronau, RN, CWOCN Jacqueline Wynn, PhD, BCBA-D Jacquelyn Doxie King, PhD Jaime-Dawn Twanow, MD James Murakami, MD James Popp, MD James Ruda, MD Jameson Mattingly, MD Jamie Macklin, MD Jane Abel Janelle Huefner, MA, CCC-SLP Janice M. Moreland, CPNP-PC, DNP Janice Townsend, DDS, MS Jared Sylvester Jaysson Eicholtz Jean Hruschak, MA, CCC/SLP Jeff Sydes, CSCS Jeffery Auletta, MD Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD Jeffrey Hoffman, MD Jeffrey Leonard, MD Jen Campbell, PT, MSPT Jena Heck Jenn Gonya, PhD Jennie Aldrink, MD Jennifer Borda, PT, DPT Jennifer Hofherr Jennifer Locker Jennifer Prinz Jennifer Reese, PsyD Jennifer Smith, MS, RD, CSP, LD, LMT Jenny Worthington, PT, DPT Jerry R. Mendell, MD Jessalyn Mayer, MSOT, OTR/L Jessica Bailey, PsyD Jessica Bogacik, MS, MT-BC Jessica Bowman, MD Jessica Brock Jessica Bullock, MA/CCC-SLP Jessica Buschmann, RD Jessica Scherr, PhD Jim O’Shea OT, MOT, CHT Joan Fraser, MSW, LISW-S John Ackerman, PhD John Caballero, PT, DPT, CSCS John Kovalchin, MD Jonathan D. Thackeray, MD Jonathan Finlay, MB, ChB, FRCP Jonathan M. Grischkan, MD Jonathan Napolitano, MD Joshua Prudent, MD Joshua Watson, MD Julee Eing, CRA, RT(R) Julia Colman, MOT, OTR/L Julie Apthorpe Julie Leonard, MD, MPH Julie Racine, PhD Julie Samora, MD Justin Indyk, MD, PhD Kady Lacy Kaleigh Hague, MA, MT-BC Kaleigh Matesick Kamilah Twymon, LPCC-S Kara Malone, MD Kara Miller, OTR/L Karen Allen, MD Karen Days, MBA Karen Rachuba, RD, LD, CLC Kari A. Meeks, OT Kari Dubro, MS, RD, LD, CWWS Kari Phang, MD Karla Vaz, MD Karyn L. Kassis, MD, MPH Kasey Strothman, MD Katherine Deans, MD Katherine McCracken, MD Kathleen (Katie) Roush Kathryn Blocher, CPNP-PC Kathryn J. Junge, RN, BSN Kathryn Obrynba, MD Katie Brind'Amour, MS Katie Thomas, APR Katrina Hall, MA, CCLS Katrina Ruege, LPCC-S Katya Harfmann, MD Kayla Zimpfer, PCC Keli Young Kelley Swope Kelli Dilver, PT, DPT Kelly Abrams Kelly Boone Kelly Huston Kelly J. Kelleher, MD Kelly McNally, PhD Kelly N. Day, CPNP-PC Kelly Pack, LISW-S Kelly Tanner,PhD, OTR/L, BCP Kelly Wesolowski, PsyD Kent Williams, MD Kevin Bosse, PhD Kevin Klingele, MD Kim Bjorklund, MD Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS Kimberly Bates, MD Kimberly Sisto, PT, DPT, SCS Kimberly Van Camp, PT, DPT, SCS Kirk Sabalka Kris Jatana, MD, FAAP Krista Winner, AuD, CCC-A Kristen Armbrust, LISW-S Kristen Cannon, MD Kristen E. Beck, MD Kristen Martin, OTR/L Kristi Roberts, MS MPH Kristina Booth, MSN, CFNP Kristina Reber, MD Kristol Das, MD Kyle Davis Lance Governale, MD Lara McKenzie, PhD, MA Laura Brubaker, BSN, RN Laura Dattner Laurel Biever, LPC Lauren Durinka, AuD Lauren Garbacz, PhD Lauren Justice, OTR/L, MOT Lauren Madhoun, MS, CCC-SLP Lauryn Rozum Lee Hlad, DPM Leena Nahata, MD Lelia Emery, MT-BC Leslie Appiah, MD Linda Stoverock, DNP, RN NEA-BC Lindsay Kneen, MD Lindsay Pietruszewski, PT, DPT Lindsay Schwartz Lindsey Vater, PsyD Lisa Golden Lisa M. Humphrey, MD Logan Blankemeyer, MA, CCC-SLP Lori Grisez PT, DPT Lorraine Kelley-Quon Louis Bezold, MD Lourdes Hill, LPCC-S Lubna Mazin, PharmD Luke Tipple, MS, CSCS Lynda Wolfe, PhD Lyndsey Miller Lynn Rosenthal Lynne Ruess, MD Maggy Rule, MS, AT, ATC Mahmoud Kallash, MD Manmohan K Kamboj, MD Marc Levitt, MD Marc P. Michalsky, MD Marcel J. Casavant, MD Marci Johnson, LISW-S Marcie Rehmar Marco Corridore, MD Margaret Bassi, OTR/L Maria Haghnazari Maria Vegh, MSN, RN, CPN Marissa Condon, BSN, RN Marissa Larouere Mark E. Galantowicz, MD Mark Smith, MS RT R (MR), ABMP Physicist Marnie Wagner, MD Mary Ann Abrams, MD, MPH Mary Fristad, PhD, ABPP Mary Kay Sharrett Mary Shull, MD Matthew Washam, MD, MPH Meagan Horn, MA Megan Brundrett, MD Megan Dominik, OTR/L Megan Francis Megan Letson, MD, M.Ed Meghan Cass, PT, DPT Meghan Fisher, BSN, RN Meika Eby, MD Melanie Fluellen, LPCC Melanie Luken, LISW-S Melissa and Mikael McLaren Melissa McMillen, CTRS Melissa Winterhalter, MD Meredith Merz Lind, MD Michael Flores, PhD Michael T. Brady, MD Mike Patrick, MD Mindy Deno, PT, DPT Mitch Ellinger, CPNP-PC Molly Gardner, PhD Monica Ardura, DO Monica Ellis Monique Goldschmidt, MD Motao Zhu, MD, MS, PhD Murugu Manickam, MD Nancy Auer Nancy Cunningham, PsyD Nancy Wright, BS, RRT, RCP, AE-C Naomi Kertesz, MD Natalie Powell, LPCC-S, LICDC-CS Natalie Rose, BSN, RN Nathalie Maitre, MD, PhD Nationwide Children's Hospital Nationwide Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Experts Neetu Bali, MD, MPH Nehal Parikh, DO, MS Nichole Mayer, OTR/L, MOT Nicole Caldwell, MD Nicole Dempster, PhD Nicole Greenwood, MD Nicole Parente, LSW Nicole Powell, PsyD, BCBA-D Nina West Nkeiruka Orajiaka, MBBS Octavio Ramilo, MD Oliver Adunka, MD, FACS Olivia Stranges, CPNP-PC Olivia Thomas, MD Omar Khalid, MD, FAAP, FACC Onnalisa Nash, CPNP-PC Oula Khoury Paige Duly, CTRS Parker Huston, PhD Patrick C. Walz, MD Patrick Queen, BSN, RN Pedro Weisleder, MD Peter Minneci, MD Peter White, PhD Pitty Jennings Preeti Jaggi, MD Rachael Morocco-Zanotti, DO Rachel D’Amico, MD Rachel Schrader, CPNP-PC Rachel Tyson, LSW Rajan Thakkar, MD Raymond Troy, MD Rebecca Fisher, PT Rebecca Hicks, CCLS Rebecca Lewis, AuD, CCC-A Rebecca M. Romero, RD, LD, CLC Reggie Ash Jr. Reno Ravindran, MD Richard Kirschner, MD Richard Wood, MD Robert A. Kowatch, MD, Ph.D. Rochelle Krouse, CTRS Rohan Henry, MD, MS Rose Ayoob, MD Rose Schroedl, PhD Rosemary Martoma, MD Ross Maltz, MD Ryan Ingley AT, ATC Samanta Boddapati, PhD Samantha Malone Sammy Cygnor Sandra C. Kim, MD Sara Bentley, MT-BC Sara Bode, MD Sara Breidigan, MS, AT, ATC Sara N. Smith, MSN, APRN Sara O'Rourke, MOT, OTR/L, Clinical Lead Sara Schroder, MD Sarah A. Denny, MD Sarah Cline, CRA, RT(R) Sarah Driesbach, CPN, APN Sarah Greenberg Sarah Hastie, BSN, RNC-NIC Sarah Keim, PhD Sarah Myers Sarah O'Brien, MD Sarah Saxbe Sarah Schmidt, LISW-S Sarah Scott Sarah Tracey Sarah VerLee, PhD Sasigarn Bowden, MD Satya Gedela, MD, MRCP(UK) Scott Coven, DO, MPH Scott Hickey, MD Sean Eing Sean Rose, MD Seth Alpert, MD Shana Moore, MA, CCC-A Shannon Reinhart, LISW-S Shari Uncapher Sharon Wrona, DNP, PNP, PMHS Shawn Pitcher, BS, RD, USAW ShawNaye Scott-Miller Shea Smoske Sheila Giles Simon Lee, MD Stacy Whiteside APRN, MS, CPNP-AC/PC, CPON Stefanie Bester, MD Stefanie Hirota, OTR/L Stephanie Burkhardt, MPH, CCRC Stephanie Cannon Stephanie Santoro, MD Stephanie Vyrostek BSN, RN Stephen Hersey, MD Steve Allen, MD Steven C. Matson, MD Steven Ciciora, MD Steven Cuff Suellen Sharp, OTR/L, MOT Susan Colace, MD Susan Creary, MD Swaroop Pinto, MD Tabatha Ballard Tabbetha Greco Tabi Evans, PsyD Tabitha Jones-McKnight, DO Tahagod Mohamed, MD Tamara Mapp Tammi Young-Saleme, PhD Terry Barber, MD Terry Bravender, MD, MPH Terry Laurila, MS, RPh Theresa Miller, BA, RRT, RCP, AE-C, CPFT Thomas Pommering, DO Thomas Savage Tiasha Letostak, PhD Tiffanie Ryan, BCBA Tim Robinson Timothy Cripe, MD, PhD Tracey L. Sisk, RN, BSN, MHA Tracie Rohal RD, LD, CDE Tracy Mehan, MA Travis Gallagher, AT Trevor Miller Tyanna Snider, PsyD Tyler Congrove, AT Vanessa Shanks, MD, FAAP Venkata Rama Jayanthi, MD Vidu Garg, MD Vidya Raman, MD W. Garrett Hunt, MD Walter Samora, MD Warren D. Lo, MD Wendy Anderson, MD Wendy Cleveland, MA, LPCC-S Whitney McCormick, CTRS Whitney Raglin Bignall, PhD William Cotton, MD William J. Barson, MD William Ray, PhD William W. Long, MD About this Blog Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center 700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you. View All Author Bios You Might Also Be Interested In My Child Has a Bruise: When Should I Worry? How to Manage Sleep Problems The Importance of Having a Relationship With Your Child's Pediatrician Join the Conversation! 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