My advice for finding a good pediatrician
As I've already stated, I cannot underestimate the importance of finding a good pediatrician. As a parent, you are your child's first and best advocate.
Tips on Finding a Good Pediatrician:
- See the DAN! Doctor List to find a DAN! Doctor in your area. There is usually a waiting list.
- If you're in a managed health care plan, your choice of participating doctors who provide primary care for children may be limited, so be sure to check the plan's online list.
- Call if your child has any special medical needs that would require an out-of-network doctor.
- Once you know the limits imposed by your health plan, compile a list of candidates from people you trust - your relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who share your parenting philosophies.
- Your doctor, obstetrician, or nurse-midwife can also be a good source for recommendations.
- Find a health professional whose style and personality will complement your own.
- If you've recently moved to a new area, you may not have personal or social connections established to ask for referrals. In this case, you may want to contact area hospitals or medical schools for recommendations or ask the pediatric residents or nurses where they take their children.
- You can also request a list of board-certified pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and board certified family physicians from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
- See the DAN! Doctor List to find a DAN! Doctor in your area. There is usually a waiting list. And yes, this bullet item was deliberately repeated for emphasis!
Questions for a Potential Pediatrician:
- Do you have children?
- Do you have experience treating children with autism and/or sensory issues? Ask the doctor to elaborate.
- How long have you been in practice?
- Do you have any subspecialties?
- What are the office hours? Do you have evening or Saturday hours?
- Is this a solo or group practice?
- Do you charge for phone calls?
- Do you return every call?
- How can I reach the doctor in an emergency?
- Who will see your child if your doctor is on vacation or otherwise unavailable?
- What is the scheduled length of your appointments?
- Does a PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practioner) work in the office? How does he or she fit into the practice arrangement?
- Which hospitals is your doctor affiliated with? You will want to make sure that the hospital is in your managed healthcare provider's network.
- How does the office handle phone inquiries during and after hours?
- Is email an option for communicating with your doctor?
- Will your child's doctor handle emergencies, or will your child be referred to an emergency room or urgent care center? Are these facilities equipped to handle pediatric emergencies?
- Are lab tests done in the office? If so, does the office have a "papoose" for safety during blood draws?
- What are the payment policies? This is especially important if you do not have prepaid health coverage. What are the fees for services? Must they be paid in full at the time of the visit or can payment plans be arranged?
- What are the policies regarding referrals to specialists, in the event your child needs additional care?
Tips for Evaluating a Pediatrician
- Does the doctor seem to know about the latest medical advances? (In particular, with respect to Autism.)
- Scrutinize the reception area; how many children are waiting?
- Is there a place where sick children can be separated from those in for a well visit?
- Is the area clean and child-friendly?
- Is the staff polite and considerate to patients in the waiting room and to people on the phone?
- The overall atmosphere in the waiting area will give you a good idea what the practice is like.
- While you're waiting, talk to other parents to determine whether they are satisfied with the care their child is receiving. Is their child comfortable with the doctor? Do the parents feel confident the doctor is thorough and competent?
- Is the doctor patient and willing to explain things carefully?
- Are the doctor's age and gender important issues to you?
- Is the doctor is a good listener who seems responsive to your concerns?
- You also should be sure that your parenting style matches your doctor's in the important issues related to medical care and the challenges of autism. How does the doctor feel about biomedical intervention? Delayed vaccination schedule? Alternative or integrative medicines or techniques? Use of antibiotics and other medications? Come up with a list of things that are important to you and find out where the doctor stands on these issues.
- Does the doctor focus on preventive care, including immunizations, child safety, and nutrition?