One of the biggest challenge what a mother faces is “To find a good child specialist / pediatrician near me”. Which pediatrician is the right one for your child? Before you start your search, take a few minutes to learn exactly what this kind of doctor does.
Pediatricians are doctors who manage the health of your child, including physical, behavior, and mental health issues. They’re trained to diagnose and treat childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases.
Pediatricians have an education that gives them special skills to take care of your child’s health. They graduated from medical school and completed a 3-year residency program in pediatrics.
Kids don’t come with an owner’s manual, and they dont operate on anyone else’s schedule. It’s what makes finding a pediatrician such an important task. Your Pediatrician is the first line of personalized care for your child – from the first days of life through young adulthood.
Questions to Ask a Pediatrician
Pediatricians take care of your child beginning in infancy and stay with your child through adolescence. From ear infections and colic to school physicals and sports injuries all the way to adolescence and acne and infections from piercing, your pediatrician remains a constant in your child’s life. This is why you need to be comfortable with your pediatrician. Fit matters. The best way to determine fit is to schedule an appointment and come prepared to ask questions. When meeting with a pediatrician for the first time, here are a few questions to consider:
- What are the pediatricians’s visiting hours?
- Are there certain days of the week when hours might be extended?
- Are there evening or Saturday hours?
- How does the pediatrician’s staff handle telephone calls?
- Does the pediatrician accept and answer questions via email?
- How long does it typically take to get a non-emergency appointment for my child?
- How are appointments scheduled for sick children?
- Whom do I contact in an emergency?
- How do I reach the doctor after hours?
- Are all types of vaccines available at the clinic?
- Is the staff friendly?
- How close is the clinic to my residence in case I need to run for an emergency?
- Does any other doctor attend the pediatricians clinic when he is on leave?
- How do patients typically rate the doctor on google?
- What is the average wait time at the clinic?
- Where does the doctor have hospital admission facilities,i.e. where does he admit his patients in emergency?
- Will the doctor (or another physician in the practice) see my new baby in the hospital?
What Does Your Pediatrician Do?
They’ll see your child many times from birth to age 2 and once a year from ages 2 to 5 for “well-child visits.” After age 5, your pediatrician will likely continue to see your child every year for annual checkups. They’re also the first person to call whenever your child is sick.
To take care of your child, your pediatrician will:
- Do physical exams.
- Give your child vaccinations.
- Make sure your childmeets milestones in growth, behavior, and skills.
- Diagnose and treat your child’s illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems.
- Give you information about your child’s health, safety, nutrition, and fitness needs.
- Answer your questions about your little one’s growth and development.
- Refer you to specialists if they think your child needs expert care.
Why Do You Need a Pediatrician?One thing to keep in mind: Family doctors / General practitioners are also an option for your child. They look after the health of your whole family — kids and grown-ups alike. It’s a personal choice whether you use one or a pediatrician.
Some reasons to go with a pediatrician are:
- They have special training in children’s health.
- They only see children in their practice, so they have a lot of experience in recognizing and treating childhood illnesses.
- If your child was born early or has a health condition that needs close monitoring, a pediatrician may offer more specialized care.