Kiddie Docs- March 30, 2011
I remember the last time I went to the pediatrician’s office as a patient. I was 19. I had come home from college for fall break and I was sick as a dog. Like most college students I was too lazy and hungover focused on my studies to take the time to switch to a grown-up doctor. At school I relied on the University Student Health Center. But, since they typically just prescribed Valtrex and the morning-after-pill for every affliction, I knew I needed a better diagnostician for this illness.
I sat in the waiting room wrapped up in two North Face fleeces as I fought a fever. Three snot-nosed-brats screamed as they raced by me, hitting one another. A receptionist said, “Excuse me ma’m, we ask that you control your children.” What?! Yeah, if they thought I was a parent and not a patient, it was time to leave the pediatrician. I got my Tamiflu and got out of there.
Ten years later as a pregnant woman, I took time finding the right peds office for my baby. We got recommendations from friends and took the prenatal tour. Have I told you I love Charlotte’s doctors’ office? I do. I love them. I’m really glad we chose the practice we did for the following reasons…
- They have two offices. Our house is smack-dab in between, five minutes from either location.
- They quickly arrange same-day appointments. Sometimes they can see your kid within an hour.
- They have a group of doctors ranging from young and right out of med school all the way to doctors who have practiced pediatric medicine for 35 years. It’s the best of both worlds, experienced doctors with tried-and-true methods, collaborating with young doctors learning the latest methods and using the newest technologies.
- They have nurses who are lactation conslultants. I had NO IDEA this was a feature I would need and apprecitate so much. It was incredibly convienent in Charlotte’s first few weeks to have the lactation consultant right there to help me when we took her in for those early appointments. One new mother told me recently she left a practice because they didn’t have any lactation consultants and a nurse just told her to give her baby formula. I’ve said before, I have no problem with formula, I just appreciated having breastfeeding help right there at the pediatrician’s office.
- They don’t make me feel stupid when I call the help line with things like “I think my baby got poop in her eye.” or “My baby’s poop looks a little off.” They asked me to bring in her latest “sample” during that appointment. I of course, brought in a Ziploc storage bag of 4 of the day’s diapers labeled sequentially.
They see teenagers at this office, but I’ll advise Charlotte to get to a General Practioner before she heads off to college.
Why and how did you choose your pediatrician? What features do you like best?
Spread it around:
I chose ours by looking online under our insurance and seeing who was there. Then I clicked on their bios and ended up picking the female ped that was in the area. She is part of a group that has another male ped who I have heard wondeful things about and a group of family docs/nurses that I grew up with.
I hate our doctors office… I need a new one. They gave me formula when I told them I was breast feeding. Just in case. But no help with breastfeeding questions. Glad to know that there are better out there.
I'm doing my research right now. Saw my first yesterday, and my other option next week. First going off of recommendations, second – are they in my insurance plan, third – location, and fourth – how tolerant are they of a question yielding, opinionated, wants-her-child's-vaccinations-spaced-out type of momma.
Good call on the lactation consultant… I'll have to be on the look out for that too.
I actually am about to switch doctors. We've been taking Isis to a family doctor who sees all the way from babies to old people. It was fine at first, but now we just really want a practice that is specific to children. The only problem is that most of them around here aren't as flexible as our doctor has been. Ours has regular hours like 8-5, but then they have walk-in hours from 5-8 every night and in the mornings on Saturdays & Sundays! That's really helpful & has come in handy several times for us. But when Isis got pneumonia a couple of weeks ago, it just became pretty clear that we wanted a doctor who specialized in children. We just got answers & comments that we knew weren't matching what we were dealing with at home. Long story. But this Tuesday Isis has her last appointment with our family doctor & then she'll start going to a pediatrician. I'm currently in the middle of my search. You've definitely helped me realize that I would like one with lactation consultants!! Hopefully there's one like that around here!!
I found my kids' pediatrician by asking on mamapedia.com (which used to be mamasource.com). It's an incredible resource for moms to ask questions about local things or just get advice about parenting. Okay, that's not a PSA, I just really like that site.
But anyway, the NUMERO UNO reason I like our doctor's office is that there isn't a wait in the office. The longest I have EVER waited is probably 10 minutes. I'm not kidding about this – I could care less if the doctor is friendly or alternative or pushes meds or pushes herbs or whatever. If he can keep his schedule on time, I"m a happy camper. And so are the 4 healthy kids that usually have to come along for the 1 sick kid's appointment.