Brides Helping Brides ™ - Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Lisalou Posted: Feb 02, 2004 02:53 PM

Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

I am in search of pediatrcians now and have my first appointment tomorrow, these are the questions I have thus far? Are they far fetched am I missing anything important? thanks...

What is Dr. XXX philosophy about child rearing?
For example:
Do many of the mother’s in your practice breast-feed?
Do you think children should be fed on a schedule?
Sleep in the same bed as the parents?
What is your philosophy about antibiotics or other medication for children who have colds?
What is their opinion about children vaccinations?

How much are your hospital charges and fees for office visits? (Covered under XXX)

Does a pediatric nurse practitioner work in your office?

Do you charge for Phone calls? Ex. If I have a question about breastfeeding or sleeping habits and need to speak to the Dr.?

Does she return every call or is there someone else that makes these calls for the Dr.?

What is the scheduled length of every appointment? (10-15 or 20-30)

How often do you want to see the baby in the first year? (well-child visits) and why?

Do you have a sick-child waiting room?

Will I always see Dr. XXX? If she is busy or I have an emergency whom will I see? What is her schedule like (Mon-Fri. or certain days?)

Do you have evening or Saturday hours?

chmlengr Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:15 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

I am also going to start interviewing pediatricians, and I find this questions very helpful. I'm also wondering what the BTDT mom's have to say.

HillandRon Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:16 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

My brother is a pediatrician and he just sent me a list of questions that he gets asked from parents to be..... I just gave it to a friend of mine who is looking for a pediatrician...

Some of the most common questions that I get are:
1.) Where are you from??? Where did you do your training??
2.) What are your office hours?? How many doctors are in your office?? If you are not there and my baby is sick, will they be able to see somebody else?? Does your office have weekend hours???
3.) What happens when I deliver my baby?? Will you see them in the hospital??
4.) What are your feelings on giving out antibiotics?? What are your feelings on breast feeding???
5.) What hospitals are you associated with?? What if my child has a problem that you aren't comfortable handling???
6.) Will I be able to get in touch with a doctor at all hours if I have a problem with my child??

Those are the most common ones. The main thing is that the parent really just needs to feel comfortable with the doctor they are interviewing and for them to like them; the vast majority of us have similar answers to the above questions!

Lisalou Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:23 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Excellent additions. Thank you so much... After tomorrow I have 2 more to interview.

Samanthas Mom Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:24 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

when is babys first visit to a pediatrician after its born??? does anyone know?
and when do you start looking? you can actually go in just to interview them?

Lisalou Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:28 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

I heard I had to interview pediatricians, but when I wasn't sure of... My last visit at 24 weeks we were going over the birth plan and she asked me if I found a pediatrician yet, I said no... What do you mean??? She explained, that once the baby is born your pediatrician is notified and will come to the hospital to give the baby an exam. Then you go back to their office within a week after going home. Every doctor/pediactrician is different. But, apparently I need this info. when registering at the hospital. Also I figured, get it out of the way before the baby is here, never know what could happen...

chmlengr Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:29 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Good to know. Now I'll have to start a post asking for ped recommendations. I must get my act together!!

Samanthas Mom Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:31 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

wow interesting! I guess around 5months I should start looking! and asking

Lisalou Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:35 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

My doctor did mention if you don't find a pediatrician in time your baby will be examed by one of the on-call pediatricians. So you're not left in the dark and the baby will be taken care of no matter what. She just wanted me to be settled and comfortable with a dr. before Bean is here so I don't have to worry about it days after she is born.

Good luck with your searches.

Samanthas Mom Posted: Feb 02, 2004 03:37 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

let us know who you pick

Stacey1403 Posted: Feb 02, 2004 04:07 PM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Posted by Lisalou

I heard I had to interview pediatricians, but when I wasn't sure of... My last visit at 24 weeks we were going over the birth plan and she asked me if I found a pediatrician yet, I said no... What do you mean??? She explained, that once the baby is born your pediatrician is notified and will come to the hospital to give the baby an exam. Then you go back to their office within a week after going home. Every doctor/pediactrician is different. But, apparently I need this info. when registering at the hospital. Also I figured, get it out of the way before the baby is here, never know what could happen...

Actually they will only come to your hospital if they are affliated with it. My ped. isn't so we saw one of the hospital peds. (He did happen to be my friends ped though ) I gave borth in Nassau but live in eastern Suffolk. So I took Damien to our ped a week after he was born

jenny11.9 Posted: Feb 03, 2004 07:08 AM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

I met a ped. in the hospital that was doing rounds and was suggested by a few of the nurses. I never got around to the interview because i was induced early. I liked this dr. in the hospital, but when we met her for the 1st appt, I didn't like her at all.

She was really dismissive of my husband which really upset me . I felt she was rushed, and she took a call while we were standing there with a naked, screaming, scared 5 day old preemie.

So I highly recommend the interview - you need to be comfortable!

Lisalou Posted: Feb 03, 2004 09:25 AM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Thanks everyone for your advice. I just met with the pediatricians and absolutely LOVE all of them. The center was amazing, even answered all of my questions before I asked them. So glad I did this. One less thing to worry about

jlf41 Posted: Feb 03, 2004 09:32 AM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

We had a hard time finding a ped who takes my DH's crappy NYC insurance. But anyway, we decided NOT to interview for a few reasons. First, in an interview, everyone is on their best behavior, often giving answers they think you want to hear and not really being themselves. IMO, without baby there it is hard to get a sense of how the ped 'doctors.' You can definetely get a sense of their general personality but really, who is going to be a total jerk to you in the interview? I think jenny's example is perfect - when the ped is busy and stressed with the phone ringing and the office hopping is when you will really get a sense of what they are like. Plus, asking questions about their 'philosophy' I find falsely reassuring. I don't know what my 'philosophy' is for child rearing yet. How can I choose a ped based on that? I just want someone with an open mind who can give me info and help me find more if what he/she knows isn't enough or doesn't work for me. I agree that it is important to get background info on training, office hours, coverage etc..

I guess my point is don't beat yourself up for not interviewing and researching a bunch of peds to find the perfect one - you can always change peds at any time. I don't mean to sound negative in anyway - just offering my humble opinion

chmlengr Posted: Feb 03, 2004 10:07 AM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

Jessica, my search for a pediatrician is also going to be centered around finding one that accepts my DH's crappy insurance, as I will be leaving my job when the baby comes along.

I also appreciate what you have to say - I agree with it! I'm hoping that I can be comfortable with one based on other people's recommendations, but I haven't ruled out interviewing them either. I think its sad my choice is limited to by who is covered under the insurance!

Lisalou Posted: Feb 03, 2004 10:48 AM

Re: Are these good questions to ask when interviewing a Pediatrician

I do agree with you Jessica as well. The beginning of my search started with friends recommondations only. I set up appointments with dr.'s my friends use. I know most of these Dr.'s are not going to be up front, but to me I go by... How much time was I waiting in the waiting room, was the coordinator nice, did she get me what I needed right away or was I ignored for 20 minutes like you usually are at other dr. offices. What is the office like, is it clean, how do they handle sick children and so forth. I wanted to get a general sense of, hmm... do I like this place, do I like the dr.'s, staff? I got to see types of patients go in and out and how they handled them. My child may hate this dr. I choose and in that case I move on to the next... I guess everything is a trial run basis, can never know what to expect next, right