Looking for a pediatric doctor? If you’re just moving to the area and don’t quite know a lot of people yet, getting referrals might not net you a lot of names to work with. You could check the referral site of the American Association of Pediatrics to see generate a list of pediatric doctors. Or try calling the pediatric department of the local hospital or the one nearest to you. If you finally have a few names on your list, the next thing to do is to call up each one.
Don’t know what to ask? Here are a few questions from Healthy Children Org to help you out:
- Affiliations. Is the pediatrician affiliated with any hospital? If your child needs to be admitted, which hospital would that be? Is it too far away to be a convenient and practical choice?
- Access. Where’s the pediatrician’s office located? Will it be easy for you to swing by for appointments? Is it on your way or do you need to go out of your way just to get there? Is it easy to get to? Is there a public transportation hub nearby?
- Travel time. How long does the travel time take? Anything that’s an hour or more than an hour away isn’t practical. You need your pediatrician close by. If your kids get sick in the middle of the night, you need to be able to get them to the ER, clinic or hospital right away. That means you need to pick an office or clinic that’s close by. In many cases, early treatment can be a factor in the speed of your child’s recovery. So making sure you get the right medical help and assistance as soon as possible should be top of your list of considerations.
- Insurance costs. What’s your pediatrician’s policy on how to process insurance forms? What kind of insurance programs or companies is your doctor affiliated with? Ask and know.
- Fees. Does your insurance cover the routine examinations or sick visits? Or do you pay your doctor out of your own pocket?
- Treatment. Does the doctor do his best to explain your child’s condition? Does he go out of his way to make sure you understand or get the information you need?
These 6 questions will come in handy when you choose a pediatrician to suit your needs and those of your kids. For more information on how to find a pediatric doctor in Carlsbad, get in touch with us at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group. We’ll help you find the perfect pediatrician for you.
