Pediatricians

LWilli35

Bobby *may* be getting discharged sooner than we expected (insert freak out for various reasons here), and we're left scrambling to find a pediatrician.  Since we've been in hospital far from home, they don't have any recs for us.  I know I want one with separate well/sick baby waiting areas and preferably preemie experience, and I've asked friends for recs.  What types of questions did you ask to choose your ped, and how did you decide / find them?

SWMcFarland

We actually got a referral from a friend the week before I got stuck in the hospital.  I met with them beforehand, and when the neo asked us who we were using as a pedi he was VERY pleased. 

Can you call your local NICU, since I know you are far from home) and get a rec from them?  Or do you have a resourse officer at the hospital that can call other hospitals for you?

 

Bippy798

My OB / NICU referred ours. Seriously I was too stressed to ask questions. Thank god I love her to death and everyone I told in the NICU who we were going to use only had good things to say about her!

Oct08bridge

We actually took a class at the local hospital and she was there. Luckily we LOVE her. But otherwise I was going to get recs from friends. Does your OB/GYN have a list (ours gave us one too) or your Primary dr?

And YAY for Bobby coming home sooner!!!

mek10976

We had no clue about pedis and really didn't have friends with kids yet, so we were on our own with this.  I had a subscription to Washingtonian Magazine and they put out a Best Doctors list every few years.  I used that and we have been really happy with our choice.  Because DS was born early, we never got around to the interview thing so we took a leap of faith.  We figured we could always change if it didn't work out.

Maybe Baltimore Magazine will be helpful.

justme04

DS's first pediatrician was the same one my cousin's kids went too.  His pediatrician now is associated with Pittsburgh Childrens hospital because I had no clue about finding a pediatrician in Pittsburgh and figured one associated with the children's hospital probly wouldnt be too bad.  If you end up at an office that houses several pediatricians you can start with one and if you dont like them or get a recomendation from other parents in the office switch to another one.

KellyMichelle

Our NICU helped us find one.  One thing our pedi did that I liked was that they let us go straight to the back when we got there for appointments.  I would definitely ask about that.  Also try to find someone that has had a preemie in their practice before so that they don't freak out about normal preemie things.  The other thing that I looked for is what hospital they were affiliated with. 

 

SkypekWithoutAC

I actually asked my local board for recs, and cross-referenced that with the Washingtonian's best doctors list, then picked the closest one. We went in for our interview and had Ellie later that week...good thing we liked them! lol

One thing about the sick/well rooms...I don't know that I would make that a requirement. Any germs that would be spread on surfaces in the waiting room will also be in the exam rooms. My office automatically puts infants under 2 months directly in the exam rooms, and I continued to be asked to put DD directly in the exam room through RSV season. On the one occasion that they were too busy to accommodate, we waited in the car and they waved us in from the building. If you end up really liking a pedi w/o sick/well waiting rooms, I'd consider asking about a compromise like that. 

gwenypher7

I felt so overwhelmed by this decision when Abby was ready to come home. I asked my ob and mfm for their opinion, since they are local docs. They both gave me a few names.

Whichever you choose, remember that it doesn't have to be a permanent choice. For example, I chose a pediatrician recommended but ended up not really feeling comfortable with him after the first visit. I switched to a female dr. within the same practice for the next visit because I'd heard some great things. Good luck!

Nikki1007

We pretty much knew who we were going to use based on friend's recs.  But the neos at both NICUs we were in all recommended the one we were planning on going with so that made the decision very easy.  The one thing I love about this office is they only see newborns at certain times of the day so there are no older kids running around and they have a waiting room just for newborns.  Plus there is a sick and a well waiting room for when she gets older.

susanc07

ditto about the referrals - i really think that is the best way.  i asked some local nesties as well as IRL friends in my area.  luckily we ended up loving the pedi we were referred to.