Conference moira::parenting

    How are emergency sick calls handled
    
    What are their weekend hours
    
    How do they handle "on-call"
    
    What hospital are they affiliated with (in case you care)
    
    Check their office set-up -- is there a place for the "contagious" kids
    to wait for their turn
    
    Go with a gut-feel about the staff and the doctor - I've chosen two
    really good pedi's this way...
    
    Good luck...
    -sandy
    

    
    
    One important thing that we found when interviewing
    the Pedi, was how much time they took to speak to
    you an answer your questions.
    
    We found a woman pedi who is very relaxed, did not
    try to hurry us out the door she was truly interested
    in taking on a new patient.  
    
    Since then she has always had time to answer as many
    questions we had after each one of my son's check ups.
    
    Another good way is to ask people you know who have
    children which Pedi they use.   If they like them
    and why, and if they have taken their children to any
    other Pedi in the area before.  If so, why didn't they
    go back?
    
    Jeanne
     

    
    Hours are important and my pedi has a sick and a well waiting room.
    
    BUT most of all I think the nurses are important. They always
    answer (screen) the calls and give general advice. The ones
    my pedi has are wonderful which I found a lifesaver.
    
    The doctors are good too : }
    

    Our pedi office has nurses and nurse practitioners that answer
    all calls, unless I specify that I want to speak to the doctor.
    I am very happy with the service I have gotten from the nurses
    and n.p.'s.
    
    Another question you may want to ask is if there are specific
    times of the day for well baby and sick visits.
    
    Our pedi's office devotes the morning hours to well baby checkups
    and the afternoons are when sick children come in.
    
    This has it's advantages and disadvantages.  Steven has never been
    so ill that he MUST be seen in the morning.  I'm not sure how they'd
    handle that situation, come to think of it.  But waiting until the
    afternoon has worked out okay for us so far.
    
    good luck!  Steven has had 3 pediatricans in his 2.5 yrs.  Don't 
    be afraid to switch if you aren't completely satisfied.
    
    Linda
    

The question I have found to be critical - do they treat you as the people who
know the most about your child?  Or, are you there to do what you're told?

Will they take you seriously when you say *something* is wrong, but you can't
really say what?  Try asking what they think of parental instincts concerning
their kids. (I hate to call it mother's instinct because fathers have it too).


Do they have pre-defined treatment procedures and what happens if they need
to vary from that?  (Do they see your kid as an individual?)  Perhaps you could
ask how willing are they to change antibiotics if your kids fights one, but likes
another.

How to they handle the situation when you are traveling
and your child becomes ill?  Will they take phone calls from the pediatrician
you find when you're 1000 miles from home?

    
    .5 touched on it. What happens when you disagree? Pose a hypothetical
    situation and listen to the answer. I would hope the doctor would have
    no problem with referral to a specialist.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Chris
    

    I don't have a lot of choices in my HMO in regards to pediatricians,
    there is only one office of Pediatrics near me. I'm wondering how many
    people use a family practitioner for their baby/child? What would be
    the problems I might encounter if I chose to do this? What are the
    benefits of a pediatrician? 
    
    Also, how far in advance do I need to hook up with a pediatrician? 
    I'm due in 9 weeks. 
    
    Gail 

    I have a family practitioner in Worcester, whom I and my family have
    been with for 8-10 years. I find it valuable because I didn't have to
    go find an OB/GYN, a family doctor, and a pediatrician. She understands
    both my and my husband's family histories and bears those in mind when
    dealing with the kids.
    
    I can't speak highly enough of the advantages of a family practitioner
    and would be unlikely to switch back.
    
    

    I have tried pediatricians and Family Pactitioners, and much prefer the
    FP.  Since she deals with the whole family, if there is an illness
    which can go through the ranks, I don't have to go to multiple dr's to
    get us all tested and/or treated.  She also is more likely to take our
    environment, lifestyle and preferences into consideration, and is
    willing to remind me when it is time for me to get in for my annual,
    the kids in for shots, etc. and just generally keep up on all of us.  
    Since my kids range in age from 19 mmonths to 21 years I don't have to
    worry about when to change over to another Dr, and have had continuity
    of care for all of us for over 10 years.
    
    The pediatrician I went to (Your mileage may vary) had little or no
    time for feeling out what goes on, was in a busy practice and tended to
    treat ONLY the symtoms for ONLY the baby.  Mom, dad and older siblings 
    just didn't seem to count.  
    
    meg

    Anoter vote for family practitioner for all the previous mentioned
    reasons!   Most minor illnesses are going to go through the family,
    having one dr that knows what is going on in the entire household is
    such a benefit.  
    
    Jean
    

	We've had a FP for 3 years.  I started seeing her when I needed a 
	new OB/GYN and knew we would be starting a family in a few years.
	When I was pregnant with Kristen (who is 19months now) she asked
	me at my 6month check up if I would like her to be the baby's 
	pediatrician or if I would be finding someone else.  We decided
	to go with her and it's worked out great!

	Now when I go for one of my appointments and somethings on my mind
	about Kristen or my husband has a question, I can ask the doctor
	directly about this and vica versa.  For example, when I brought in
	Kristen for her 1yr checkup I mentioned that we would be trying
	to get pregnant again in a few months, she said I should 
	start pre-natal vitamins then and wrote me a prescription right
	then.

	For us, we love it!
	Karen T.