What should I ask the Pediatrician?

aj5oh00

Hi Ladies!

We're starting to interview Pediatricians tomorrow and I'm looking for suggestions on things that we should ask/discuss?

TIA!!

halfnhalf

I'd ask...

His/her availability to see patients (will you see other doctors at the practice too, or just this one).  How quickly can kids get squeezed in for an appt, or in other words, how booked are they usually?

His/her thoughts re: vaccinations (not sure what specifically, but seems like a good topic to get into), and if he/she will, on occasion, write scripts for meds sight unseen (calls like, "Baby woke up with pink eye again... can we get another script for xyz?").

His/her opinion on when to go directly to emergency room and if they have any sort of emergency/urgent care availability.

HTH, that's all I can think of for now

Dragonfly1226

Ask who you will talk to when you call after hours. My pediatrician's office has the doctors rotate nights on call so if you call after hours you are automatically connected to a doctor in the practice as opposed to a nurse or answering service. They try to get you through to the morning when they can see you to avoid trips to the ER. I really liked that.

Also ask if they have a lactation consultant on staff if you plan on nursing.