What to ask pediatricians

kymberleyd22 · July 2011

I've started researching pediatricians,nd and have no clue what to ask when I go to meet them. What questions do you have/have had on your list. What's really important? This FTM needs help Tongue Tied

bridein08 · July 2011

I am a nurse in a pediatric office, and would be sure to ask the following:

1) Do you have separate sick and well waiting rooms?

2) Do you have extended hours (evenings, weekends)?

3) Do you have nurses available 24/7 available (at no cost) to field sick questions by phone?

4) What are your average waiting times? (This one will need to be addressed to the actual physicians (not just the office) you are interviewing- at our office with 11 providers, wait time varies from NO wait for certain providers to 1+ hours in the waiting room for our slower providers)

alber2am · July 2011

I would also ask if they offer same day sick visits, find out how long it takes to get in to see the doctor for a sick visit and their thoughts on use of antibiotics/cold medications.

LMH1209 · July 2011

Baby 411 (my favorite baby reference book) has a good discussion on selecting a doctor. I'll add that the practices I considered (back in 2009) were all good about giving a lot of info. that I was planning to ask, so I didn't really need to ask that many questions.

kymberleyd22 · July 2011

Thank you ladies!

Rebecca2024 · July 2011

bridein08:
I am a nurse in a pediatric office, and would be sure to ask the following:
1) Do you have separate sick and well waiting rooms?

I guess I don't understand this one...

What does having separate waiting rooms do?
Aren't the exam rooms the same (as in used by both sick and well kids)?
Does a nurse (or someone) really come in between each child and disinfect the room (more than just pulling off the "dirty" paper) thoroughly between each child?
- like the door handles, chairs, walls, etc...

I grew up going to a separate waiting room pediatrician and I thought it was cool to be on the healthy kid side, but as an adult, I don't really understand the concept.

The toys on each side will be just as dirty because they're touched by kids... even healthy kids sneeze, touch their eyes, mouth, bottom, etc. and then touch the toys. Kids by definition are dirty, no? Ha!

As an "insider", will you explain this one?

bridein08 · July 2011

Rebecca2024:
bridein08:
I am a nurse in a pediatric office, and would be sure to ask the following:
1) Do you have separate sick and well waiting rooms?

I guess I don't understand this one...

What does having separate waiting rooms do?
Aren't the exam rooms the same (as in used by both sick and well kids)?
Does a nurse (or someone) really come in between each child and disinfect the room (more than just pulling off the "dirty" paper) thoroughly between each child?
- like the door handles, chairs, walls, etc...

The exam rooms are the same, but at different times of the day. Yes, we disinfect rooms inbetween sick and well patients.

I grew up going to a separate waiting room pediatrician and I thought it was cool to be on the healthy kid side, but as an adult, I don't really understand the concept.

The toys on each side will be just as dirty because they're touched by kids... even healthy kids sneeze, touch their eyes, mouth, bottom, etc. and then touch the toys. Kids by definition are dirty, no? Ha!

Kids are dirty, but there is a huge difference between a sitting room with 30 other "sick" patients during flu season (with respiratory precautions, as the illness is spread by droplets) and 30 other "healthy" patients who are not coughing/sneezing, etc.

We do not have toys in our office because of the risk of infection. Families bring their own toys.

As an "insider", will you explain this one?

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