Choosing a Pediatrician

Of the many decisions couples make during pregnancy, one of the most important is choosing a physician for your child. Family practice physicians care for the entire family and many see infants. Pediatricians specialize in caring for infants and children.

WHEN TO BEGIN YOUR SEARCH

St. John’s Children’s Hospital recommends you begin searching for a physician in the final months of pregnancy. Start your search by asking for recommendations from your OB/GYN, relatives and friends. Make sure the physicians you decide to interview are accepting new patients and accept your insurance plan. Both parents should be present at the interview.
It’s important that the physician you choose is a good fit with you and your spouse, in personality, philosophy about child-rearing as well as in his or her ability to communicate effectively with you.

ASK QUESTIONS

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. He or she must be someone you can relate to and who inspires trust and confidence with this new addition to your family.

For a complete listing of St. John’s pediatricians and family practitioners, visit www.stjohns.com and click on Find a Physician or call 888-8888 or 1-800-909-TEAM.

PHYSICIAN INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Below are some sample questions to ask when interviewing a pediatrician or family practice physician (Feel free to make copies of this list.):

• What is your pediatric background?
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• Do you have a subspecialty?
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• If I have a minor question, when is the best time to call?
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• What is the scheduled length of your appointments?
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• What are the clinic’s hours of operation?
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• How often do you want to see the baby in the first year? Why?
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• How much emphasis do you put on proper nutrition and exercise?
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• Will I get reminders in the mail for immunizations?
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• Are there separate appointment times for well and sick children? ______________________________________________

• Does your clinic employ mid-level providers, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants?
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• Are there any testing or diagnostic facilities on site?
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• Are there any walk-in hours when appointments are not necessary?
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Some doctors designate time for telephone consultations. Others take or return calls whenever they are able to and others prefer to return calls to patients or parents of patients through their nurses. Some doctors schedule healthy-baby appointments in the morning and non-emergency illness appointments in the afternoon so that diseases aren't passed around the waiting room. Some even have two separate waiting rooms.