Explain to me the process of Pedi's

Spanishbeauty

I guess I'm a little dumb in this area (OK, in lots of baby-related areas).  But how does it all work?  I was stupid and called Treehouse right at 4pm yesterday (oops!) and of course didn't reach anyone.  I left a message so I'm assuming I might hear back on Monday. 

Anyway, what is next, if they are taking new patients.  Do I go meet them/him/her?  Do I just sign up, even though DD isn't born yet?  What if I need a referral?  *Why* would I need a referral?  This seems weird to me for a doctor's office...

 

ETA:  Please and Thank you 

Mrs.Froggianna

I'd call and ask if they have a "meet the docs" session coming up, and if not ask if you can schedule an appointment to interview the doctor(s) you're interested in.

We interviewed our first pedi (sort of...long story) at a meet the docs session.  I don't think asking to meet with a potential pedi before your baby is born is unusual at all.  And you shouldn't need any type of referral.

colleenor

i think its just however you want to approach it:)  we just chose our pedi from recommendation and didn't go to meet her before hand.  her office is in the same building as where my OB sees people one day a week so i just stopped by at one of my OB appts to pick up the new patient paper work and put her name on the hospital pre-reg form.  we didn't make an appt until after we got out of the hospital.

i can't imagine you would need a referral as the pedi is your child's primary physician but that will really all depend on your insurance.  

fjaril

I asked for recs from friends and called up to make a meet the doc appointment. We didn't want them to be opposites of our philosophies so it was important to us to meet them.

 Our first dr was the one for us. 

I'd actually just call again on Monday and ask which doctors are accepting new patients and ask if you can schedule a meet the dr appointment.

They are free (or was for us) and early in the morning before appointments start. 

Good luck on your search. 

Kim777

My pedi's office is really small (1 doc, 1 NP, 1 nurse), but here is what happened. I went off of the rec of a good friend, so I decided not to interview them beforehand since I had a good idea of their stance on key issues for me (like splitting vaccines). I called them up and told them we were interested in using them. They gave me some general info and told me to call as soon as the baby was born. We live too far out for them to come to the hospital, so my boys were seen by the hospital pedis and when I called our pedi when they were born they scheduled our first office appt for a couple of days after we left the hospital.

abbysmom1005

We went off of a rec from someone I trusted medically for our 1st Ped.  I called and asked if they were taking new patients they said yes.  I put their name on the hospital registration forms and that was it.  Since she had privileges at the hospital where I delivered he came to the hospital the day after Abby was born (she was born at night) and the day J was born. We then called to make an appointment for an office visit the day we got home.

If it is important for you that your baby is seen by their Ped in the hospital you will want to ask if they have privileges where you are delivering.  If it is not important to you, then not.

No you do not need a referral for a Ped.  Not in the traditional sense of a medical referral.  The referral came up in your last post because of the prcatice/doctor you are interested in.   For awhile they were not taking new patients but somoeone on this board said they would if you had a referral from a current patient of theirs.  ?????  No idea why though?  When I called in October they told me they were not taking any new patients period!  I even asked about having a referral from a current patient and they still told me no.  Looks like it has changed though since others have  gotten in as new patients since then. 

Temp580793000005659

We went to the "meet the doctors" sessions for a few places.  You don't need a referrel (unless your insurance requires it, but I've never heard of that).  When you do your hosptial pre-registration paperwork, it will ask you for your Peditrician.  Just put their contact info there and they will call them if they are part of your hosptial's network. Or, if they are not and your baby will be seen by the on staff Pedi, you will call the next available business day and tell them the baby is born and make your first appointment.

It was important for me to choose a Pedi that could see our baby at the hospital as opposed to the hospital Pedi.  Not that ANYTHING is wrong with the hospital Pedis...but I just wanted to see my DD's doctor immediately and start the relationship.  Therefore, when interviewing Pedi's I made sure that they could come to NAMC.  They then came the day after she was born (on a Saturday!), then again on Sunday, and again on Monday.  We were discharged Monday and I was told by our Pedi to call and schedule our next appointment and that's how we got started.

m_and_m

Treehouse requires a referral to get in right now because they are full. It's a bit of a PITA for the person giving the referral, but it's possible. I've referred 2 ppl to Dr Chang and both times it was several phones calls and double/triple checking with him that it was okay. In the end, it worked both times. For another office that isn't full you shouldn't have to go through all that.

PrincessBrideSarah

I don't know if I'm too late on this--but, as I said in a post a couple of days ago, I called Treehouse and asked if they were taking new patients. I was told that Dr. Travis and Dr. Addy were and was offerred a meet the pedi appointment with either one. We took the Dr. Travis appointment since it was much sooner and I have heard Dr. Travis mentioned as being good (on this board, actually!).

They did not ask me for a referral for a current patient. Just let me set up the appointment.

HTH!