Pediatrician??

[LadyKhay]

How are you choosing pediatricians? What questions do you ask?

[2015Harmony]

What are their hours, after hours, prescription protocol (I hate drs that over prescribe-but I'm all for immunization), sick visits (how quickly can they get your sick child in), if they are "on call". Also, if the dr is out of town is there another dr that they work with that can see your sick child. Ask friends, coworkers who they go to, but know just because one person loves them doesn't mean U will. I love my dr, she doesn't just give antibiotics every time my kids are sick, she prefers to get the kids in office instead of us going to ER/Urgent care, so she will get us in the next day if not that day (my dr says they can get something worse from the ER). There is a after hrs call service so if they're closed U can talk to some1 they will call the dr, she (my dr) has always called me back even at 12am & weekends. My dr has another dr she works with (another office) but he will see my sick child while my dr is out of town (I've never had to use the 2nd dr). But it's comforting knowing that's an option. Good luck. It can be a little stressful, i did a meet the dr interview 1st thought I really liked her. (I brought my son he was 2 yo though so I could see how she interacted w him). She has been our dr now for 5 yrs. she even made a few trips to the hospital when baby #2 was born. My daughter had stopped breathing/choking twice (she was fine/it was terrifying) my dr came in on Saturday to check on her. Not all drs are like that but remember if U go a couple of times and U really don't like the dr, look for another pediatrician.

[Mrs_MP3]

Hours of operation, after hour protocol, availability for last minute appointment, time in the field, how often your child will have to see another physician because of your actual doctor is booked, hospitals affiliated with, well baby visit schedule, what insurance is accepted...that's all I can think of right now.

[happiMom87]

I would definitely ask how open they are to giving same day appointments or next day appointments the mistake I made with my pediatrician was I just randomly chose from the list given to me at the hospital based on how close they were to my house and I absolutely hated my daughters pediatrician for about a year because everytime I try to get an appointment they would give it to me literally for like 4 weeks after I called. I would have to end up taking her to Urgent Care or the hospital for things that they could have taken care of in the doctors office. that was my main concern and after I asked my close friends how they like their pediatricians I switched her to somebody who was recommended by a couple of friends and I absolutely love her new pediatrician that will be the same pediatrician for my coming baby!!