How do you pick a pediatrician?

One of the questions asked when I went into L&D was whether I had a
pediatrician for the baby yet-which I still have to answer no to. Honestly,
given that my insurance is different from my husband's and I'm not sure
which one the baby will be on (I believe she automatically is covered under
mine, but the plan is to drop my coverage in favor of a family plan once we
get past the post-partum period), and since I can't exactly go and visit
practices or interview doctors, I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone. I really don't know anyone with really young children here-most of
my friends have older children/teens, who would have very different needs.

"Donna Metler" wrote in message
I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone. I really don't know anyone with really young children here-most
of
my friends have older children/teens, who would have very different needs.

You can ask your OB/GYN or specialist for some names of pediatricians. I
found our current pediatrician by asking Allison's GI doctor and he gave me
a wonderful pediatrician. Even though friends have older children, they
still may be able to give you the pediatrician they used when the kids were
younger. Pediatricians typically see children up to 18 and sometimes up to
21, so if they are in that age range, you still may be able to aske them.
Regarding insurance, back when I was doing insurance claims (long time ago,
forgive me if my information isn't correct anymore), if there are two
insurances in the family, the first birthday becomes the default insurance.
So, if your birthday is first in the year, then your insurance is the main
ins. and visa versa if your husband's birthday is first. Good luck!!
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

My suggestion would be to ask your perinatologist or the LD nurses at the
hospital. The nurses work with the peds enough to know who is nice and
skilled and could offer up a few names.

Good luck!!

Kelly
#4 2/12/05

"Donna Metler" wrote in message
.. .
One of the questions asked when I went into L&D was whether I had a
pediatrician for the baby yet-which I still have to answer no to.
Honestly,
given that my insurance is different from my husband's and I'm not sure
which one the baby will be on (I believe she automatically is covered
under
mine, but the plan is to drop my coverage in favor of a family plan once
we
get past the post-partum period), and since I can't exactly go and visit
practices or interview doctors, I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone. I really don't know anyone with really young children here-most
of
my friends have older children/teens, who would have very different needs.

Donna Metler wrote:

I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone.

I went with my OB's referral with #1. I trusted her referral and was
pleased with the doc. We went the family doctor route that time and I was
very happy with that but dh had a snit before the year was up and I had zero
energy to try and work it out with him so we switched to a ped. For that I
used a referral from a woman with older children and was very pleased. I
don't think the issues are all that different.

When we moved I used one ped I'd heard recommended for an office visit we
needed, whom Hunter didn't like, so I scheduled their annuals with another.
We like her and will keep her.

Point being you can switch around a lot until you find one you like and I
think referrals from parents with older children are great. :-)

--
Nikki

"Donna Metler" wrote in message ...
One of the questions asked when I went into L&D was whether I had a
pediatrician for the baby yet-which I still have to answer no to. Honestly,
given that my insurance is different from my husband's and I'm not sure
which one the baby will be on (I believe she automatically is covered under
mine, but the plan is to drop my coverage in favor of a family plan once we
get past the post-partum period), and since I can't exactly go and visit
practices or interview doctors, I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone. I really don't know anyone with really young children here-most of
my friends have older children/teens, who would have very different needs.

With our first child, DH and I were on the same plan. The insurance
covered the baby under my insurance for the first 30 days, and then
after that, they put her on the plan with DH and me. This time, we
have different insurance and DH and DD are on a parent-child plan,
while I'm on an individual plan. My insurance will cover the baby for
the first 30 days again, and then we will add the baby to DH and DD's
plan, which will automatically convert it to a family plan. (If we
can then add me to that plan, we will do so, depending on whether the
insurance company still considers me to be "higher risk" because of my
mild asthma.)

As for how to find a pediatrician, figure out which insurance the baby
will be on, and call or look at the ins. co's website to find peds in
your area. I like to have a ped close to home, because it's more
convenient that way. With our first baby, I interviewed a prospective
ped during my pregnancy and asked some questions, but you could see
about doing a phone interview. You should be able to find out things
like who you can see for a sick visit (your ped vs. whomever in the
practice is available), when they first want to see the baby after
birth, what hospital affiliation(s) they have, etc., just by calling
the office. If you have more specific questions (I wanted to know
what kind of breastfeeding support the ped could offer if needed),
inquire about a phone interview. We really liked our first ped a lot,
but when we moved states, I didn't have a chance to interview a new
ped, so I just picked one and used it for a while. That worked out
fine too, so you might just do fine by trying one from the ins. co's
list. Currently we're in the process of switching to a new ped for DD
and the new baby; the family practice doctor that DH and I see (and
like a lot) has added a pediatrician to his staff, so DD and I
interviewed her one day and really liked her.

You can also ask friends, even if they have older kids, especially if
they live close to you. My midwives have a list of area pediatricians
that their clients have recommended (especially if they're
bf'ing-friendly), so you may or may not get a good recommendation from
your OB. If you like your OB's philosophy, you might find a good ped
by asking him/her. Or if you'll be bf'ing, call your LC or LLL group
and see if they have any recommendations for peds.

-Sara
Mommy to DD, 32 months, and a new baby due in February

Donna,
The first thing I'd do is go online to both of your insurance companies
websites, and do a doctor search for peds in your area. Then I'd find a few
who take both of your insurance, so it won't matter whose insurance "little
bub" goes on. Then, I'd call and make an appointment with each, and see
their offices, meet their staff, and meet them. Find out their hours, find
out their waiting times, their after hours call information, how close they
are to you, and what hospitals they are affiliated with, etc. Plus how they
feel about whatever the major issues are -- breastfeeding, immunizations,
etc. Also, try to get a feel for how they are personality wise -- are they
relaxed and laid back, or more CYA. Hopefully you'll find someone who fits.
Good luck!
--

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03
Addison Grace, 9/30/04

Check out the family! -- www.MyFamily.com, User ID: Clarkguest1, Password:
Guest
Become a member for free - go to Add Member to set up your own User ID and
Password

"Jamie Clark" wrote in message
...
Donna,
The first thing I'd do is go online to both of your insurance companies
websites, and do a doctor search for peds in your area. Then I'd find a
few
who take both of your insurance, so it won't matter whose insurance
"little
bub" goes on. Then, I'd call and make an appointment with each, and see
their offices, meet their staff, and meet them. Find out their hours,
find
out their waiting times, their after hours call information, how close
they
are to you, and what hospitals they are affiliated with, etc. Plus how
they
feel about whatever the major issues are -- breastfeeding, immunizations,
etc. Also, try to get a feel for how they are personality wise -- are
they
relaxed and laid back, or more CYA. Hopefully you'll find someone who
fits.
Good luck!
--
The problem is that I'm on strict bedrest, and not allowed to drive
regardless, both of which make doing interviews rather difficult. I guess
going with recommendations from my OB and Perinatologist is the best bet at
this point, and then switching if something just doesn't feel right early
on.

It does look like there's a reasonable number of doctors who a) are under
both plans b) have admitting privileges into the private hospitals instead
of just the public one (both have MUCH better reputations when it comes to
just about everything but major trauma) and have medical school degrees from
schools I recognize as being either major US or European medical schools.
(I've seen one too many 60 minutes exposes on foreign diploma mills to be
confident with "Universidad del middle of nowhere, Mexico")

So, I'll take my list of possibles with me next week, and see if there are a
few who my providers recommend, and go from there.

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03
Addison Grace, 9/30/04

Check out the family! -- www.MyFamily.com, User ID: Clarkguest1,
Password:
Guest
Become a member for free - go to Add Member to set up your own User ID and
Password

You could also probably ask a good amount of questions on the telephone,
either wtih the doctor themselves (by setting up a phone appointment ahead
of time) or with the nurses in the office or at the front desk.

Honestly speaking? I got a referral for my pediatrician, and went blind. I
took Taylor for her first appointment after we got back to California, and
really liked the doctor, so have been happy with them and haven't needed to
switch. But, if it hadn't felt right, or doesn't feel right sometime in the
future, I'll switch.
--

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03
Addison Grace, 9/30/04

Check out the family! -- www.MyFamily.com, User ID: Clarkguest1, Password:
Guest
Become a member for free - go to Add Member to set up your own User ID and
Password

"Donna Metler" wrote in message
.. .

"Jamie Clark" wrote in message
...
Donna,
The first thing I'd do is go online to both of your insurance companies
websites, and do a doctor search for peds in your area. Then I'd find a
few
who take both of your insurance, so it won't matter whose insurance
"little
bub" goes on. Then, I'd call and make an appointment with each, and see
their offices, meet their staff, and meet them. Find out their hours,
find
out their waiting times, their after hours call information, how close
they
are to you, and what hospitals they are affiliated with, etc. Plus how
they
feel about whatever the major issues are -- breastfeeding, immunizations,
etc. Also, try to get a feel for how they are personality wise -- are
they
relaxed and laid back, or more CYA. Hopefully you'll find someone who
fits.
Good luck!
--
The problem is that I'm on strict bedrest, and not allowed to drive
regardless, both of which make doing interviews rather difficult. I guess
going with recommendations from my OB and Perinatologist is the best bet
at
this point, and then switching if something just doesn't feel right early
on.

It does look like there's a reasonable number of doctors who a) are under
both plans b) have admitting privileges into the private hospitals instead
of just the public one (both have MUCH better reputations when it comes to
just about everything but major trauma) and have medical school degrees
from
schools I recognize as being either major US or European medical schools.
(I've seen one too many 60 minutes exposes on foreign diploma mills to be
confident with "Universidad del middle of nowhere, Mexico")

So, I'll take my list of possibles with me next week, and see if there are
a
few who my providers recommend, and go from there.

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03
Addison Grace, 9/30/04

Check out the family! -- www.MyFamily.com, User ID: Clarkguest1,
Password:
Guest
Become a member for free - go to Add Member to set up your own User ID
and
Password

What area do you live in? You can do a search on the computer. I have to
do this before we move to Richmond. You can put the baby on your husbands
insurance. The baby isn't covered under anyone's insurance because he isn't
born yet. You have to sign the baby up after arrival. So you can pick the
insurance that way. You can also ask your ob about ped's. That is what I
did and I found a great doc. Since you are on bed rest you can call the
office of ped's and let them know that you can't come in and talk to them
but you have some questions for them. They will understand.

Good luck
Kay
Eva 9/2002
little boy 1/2005

"Donna Metler" wrote in message
.. .
One of the questions asked when I went into L&D was whether I had a
pediatrician for the baby yet-which I still have to answer no to.
Honestly,
given that my insurance is different from my husband's and I'm not sure
which one the baby will be on (I believe she automatically is covered
under
mine, but the plan is to drop my coverage in favor of a family plan once
we
get past the post-partum period), and since I can't exactly go and visit
practices or interview doctors, I'm hard pressed to figure out how to find
someone. I really don't know anyone with really young children here-most
of
my friends have older children/teens, who would have very different needs.