Find a Pediatrician

How to Choose a Pediatrician

A pediatrician provides health and medical care to children in infancy, adolescence and young adulthood.

Considered one aspect of primary care, pediatricians address prevention, wellness and medical care for diseases, conditions and injuries. They manage both physical and mental health and support healthy development from the ages of a newborn to 18 or 21.

While they are caring for your child, their work with you is just as important in order for them to make decisions that are in the best interest of your child.

A Pediatrician's Training and Credentials

Pediatricians complete medical school and training in a graduate residency program, studying physical, mental and emotional aspects of children's health and all of the body's systems. Their education requires time spent in classrooms, medical offices and hospitals, working directly with patients and other medical professionals.

There are two types of medical schools: one leads to a Medical Doctor (MD) and the other leads to an Osteopathic Doctor (DO). Both paths require a similar amount of education but focus differently; a MD practices allopathic medicine, considered to be conventional medicine in the United States, and looks at the body as a series of separately functioning systems. A DO learns more about the human musculoskeletal system and approaches the body as a whole system. In actual practice, the medical education received by MDs and DOs today is quite similar.

After graduating from medical school, pediatricians train specifically with children for three more years, studying everything from basic childhood illnesses to serious diseases and conditions to injuries and mental health issues. Upon completion of that training, some pediatricians choose to develop their skills in subspecialties, such as pediatric endocrinology (hormonal systems), neonatology, (focusing on newborns, in particular, premature babies), pediatric oncology (children with cancer), pediatric surgery and so on. In general, the medical specialties developed for adults often have a parallel specialty focused on children.

Once a physician has completed these aspects of education, he may apply to be a certified member of the American Board of Pediatrics or the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians. Board membership requires frequent recertification, and, to accomplish that, the physician must complete annual coursework requirements.

How to Choose the Right Pediatrician for Your Child

To find the right fit among your child, pediatrician and you, you'll want to identify possibilities, research their credentials and then assess their capabilities for partnership before your child is born, so your chosen pediatrician can begin a relationship with you and your baby right from the start.

Make a List of Possibilities

• Find other parents who can recommend their children's pediatricians and ask for their names.
• Do a search on UCompareHealthCare.com for the names of pediatricians in your area.
• Check with your insurance company for a list of pediatricians who work with your insurance.

Compare these lists to find names in common with your needs. By researching their credentials and capabilities, you will know which doctors you want to spend more time learning about.

You may have a long list. If possible, begin narrowing it down to pediatricians whose offices are closest to you. When your child gets sick (and he will!), you'll want to consider locations that make it easy for you to access the office.

Research a Pediatrician's Credentials

Using the list of names you have collected, look for the following information about these pediatricians on UCompareHealthCare.com:

• A MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school and residency program.
• Completion of a fellowship, if you seek help in a specialty area.
• Board certification from the board that makes sense for your needs. This may be the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American College of Osteopathic Internists, or others. A master list of medical boards can be found through the American Board of Medical Specialties. The master list of osteopathic boards is located at the American Osteopathic Association.
• Licensure from the state in which you will seek care. The Federation of State Medical Boards provides a master list of licensing bodies.
• A review of possible disciplinary actions. This information can be difficult to find, but the most obvious will be listed here on the UCompareHealthCare.com website. Further information can sometimes be found by inputting the doctor's name and location in a search engine.

Assess a Pediatrician's Capabilities

Once you have vetted your list based on the criteria above, you'll want to ask the following questions to determine which doctors are worth meeting:

• Is this doctor on the list of providers who work with my insurance?
• Does this doctor have admitting privileges at my choice of hospitals?
• Is this doctor's location convenient for me? What are the office hours? Is the office nearby, located on a bus route or easy to access, if I use a wheelchair?
• What happens if I call this doctor in an emergency? How quickly will I get a return call?
• If the doctor is not available, is there someone else who can help me when I make a phone call or need an appointment?

If you are satisfied with the answers, you'll need to make an appointment, where you'll also want to consider these questions:

• Does the doctor see your child within a fair amount of time from your appointment time?
• Does the doctor listen to your questions and not interrupt you?
• Can this doctor establish a pleasant rapport with my child?
• Is the doctor respectful?
• Does the doctor explain the meaning of difficult terms and otherwise communicate effectively with you?
• Does the doctor spend enough time with your child?
• Are you comfortable with this doctor?

Finding the right pediatrician may seem like a long, involved process, however, knowing that this doctor will help you raise your child makes it worth your time and effort.

Trisha Torrey
Guide to Patient Empowerment, About.com
Learn more about finding the right Pediatrician for you at About.com.