Knowing who will be your pediatrician before your baby arrives is a good idea. Selecting a good pediatrician early benefits you as well as your child. Once your baby arrives, life will become much busier, and knowing who to call and where to go if concerns arise will be much less stressful. When you have a pediatrician chosen, this means you will be taking your child to this same doctor right from the start. Studies show that babies receiving their care from the same doctor for their first six months are twice as likely to have their important tests conducted before they turn two. You also have more time to check out who you want to be your baby’s doctor and who you can trust their care to.
Begin your search about 28 weeks to 34 weeks into your pregnancy. That way you have the time to do some homework and are able to find a pediatrician that will be the best for your child.
Research which pediatrician to use
Not all parents look for the same qualities in a pediatrician for their child. For this reason, you will want to have at least three pediatricians in mind. You will also need to know the location of their office as you don’t want to choose one that is hard to reach. Be sure you find out which hospitals these pediatricians are affiliated with.
Meet the pediatrician
When you have brought your choices down to three or less, set up an interview with them or a prenatal visit to get a feel for them personally. This type of visit may not be covered by your insurance, so you might want to check if the pediatrician will charge you for the visit.
When you are waiting for your interview or prenatal check-up you can observe how the office functions for this particular physician. Are calls put on hold for a long period of time? Talk to other patients that are waiting with you to see how they have been treated and how well they like this pediatrician. Look around the waiting room and see if there are toys, books, or a TV to distract children while they wait.
When you meet the pediatrician, keep your questions limited to ones that pertain to the care of your baby. You will want to know how emergencies are handled, if they work as part of a group and how often they are available.
Need a good pediatrician in the Amarillo area?
Dr. John M. Young is a pediatrician in the Amarillo area that provides the best experience possible for parents and their children. He is the parent of four daughters and has extensive knowledge and experience working in the pediatrics field. Contact John M. Young M.D., Pediatrics today at (806) 354-0404 ext. 3330 or Contact Us via email. You can also visit us in person at 1500 S. Coulter St., Suite #3 in Amarillo, Texas.
