A lot of thoughts go into the exercise of selecting the right pediatrician for your babies. While ensuring the best choice, we tend to explore all possible avenues open to us. This often gets overwhelming, as suggestions and tips flood us from all corners.
If you are a new parent and are in the process of selecting your child’s pediatrician, this blog is for you.
Why is choosing the right pediatrician for your child important?
Pediatricians are in charge of your child’s health and wellbeing, hence having the right one is imperative. Also, for any health emergency of your little one, you will need to get in touch with the pediatrician at any hour of the day. Having a personal rapport and great comfort zone, which facilitates open discussions, helps parents share all their concerns and get all queries answered.
It is now being said that the right time to start selecting a pediatrician is during the 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. This will give you considerable time to find the right kind of pediatrician for your newborn.
Here are some of the things to consider while choosing the right pediatrician for your baby –
1. Have a referral list handy
Prepare the list from the recommendations you get from your family members, friends, and family doctor. Today, you can also look on the internet to learn about the best pediatricians in town. Another great way is to go through the reviews and feedback given by others on the online healthcare platforms. This will give you some insight into a doctor’s skill and competency, as well as an experience of the waiting time, scheduling appointments, clinic environment, staff behavior, etc.
2. Check credentials
Check the credentials of all the shortlisted pediatricians. Be watchful regarding their medical school, scores, valid degrees, and license for practicing. Another important thing to consider is the years of experience either as a private practitioner or as one working with a hospital. The number of years spent in urgent care, group practices, and emergencies, is also important to consider. Diversity of work settings enhances the pediatrician’s expertise.
3. Ask the right questions
The expectations of parents from their pediatricians may vary. Hence, it is critical to find the answers to your key questions by meeting the pediatricians you have shortlisted. This helps you access the comfort zone you will enjoy with your kid’s doctor. It also helps you to find out the time the doctor spends with the patients, listening to and discussing the issues, the warmth, sensitivity, and professionalism. Also check out if the waiting area is kid-friendly if the parking lot is well-situated, and also the waiting period. Also, ask about his/her availability during emergencies, for instance, if you will be able to contact him on the phone if your child suddenly develops a high fever at night.
That said, do be watchful of how the pediatrician interacts with your child. The doctor is expected to eventually develop a special bond and connection with your child, to ensure the best care.
4. Location
An easily reachable location is also highly critical for many reasons. First, it reduces traveling time. Secondly, when your child is unwell or during a time of emergency, it’s critical to reach the doctor fast. That said, you can now totally ditch going out of your house and opt for online consultation with pediatricians. Search for online pediatrician consultation near me and explore the best pediatricians in your locality for a tele or video consultation.
5. Adept in latest practices
With tech advancements, healthcare practices along with medical science have progressed phenomenally. Being conversant with the latest research will ensure the best care for children. For the best pediatrician online consultation, book a session with a highly experienced child specialist on DocGenie. Qualified with specialized training and equipped with all the latest practice modules on children’s health, our pediatricians offer tailor-made health solutions for your child.
Also read: Why You Should Choose Pediatricians Over Family Doctors For Your Child
6. Clinic details
At times you might have to spend a considerable amount of time at your child’s doctor. Hence, the clinic must offer a comfortable ambiance that is conducive for kids, especially when they are not in the best of their health. Also, ensure that the place is equipped with all necessary services. For instance, a neat and comfortable waiting area, playing activities to keep kids engaged while waiting, et al.
The good news is, that today, you can opt for online consultation with a pediatrician and access quality medical care from the comfort of your home. Search the internet for online pediatrician consultations near me and explore the online healthcare platforms that offer pediatric consultations. On DocGenie highly skilled pediatricians offer online medical consultation for kids.
There is no denying that deciding on the right pediatrician for your baby is a vital choice you make. Since it is about your child’s health the job often seems a bit nerve-racking. Start by accepting that you cannot always have the best pediatrician in the whole world for your little one. Instead, start your search by finding a highly experienced and well-trained one. Settle for a doctor who listens patiently, answers all your queries, and will be accessible whenever you need his/her for consultation. Finally, have faith in your instincts for guiding you best.
DocGenie is an online telemedicine platform that provides you with quality healthcare from the comfort of your own space. On DocGenie, you can book an online consultation with highly qualified doctors as well as book lab tests for home collection.