The Right Way to Choose a Pediatrician
As a first-time parent of a newborn or infant, or when you have moved to a new city like Gaithersburg or Silver Spring, or when your current pediatrician has retired, you need to look out for a new pediatrician for your baby. Selecting the right doctor for your child cannot be a haphazard decision, and you need needs consider a lot of things before you narrow down on the person who will treat your child. In order to select the right pediatrician in Gaithersburg or Silver Spring, MD, here is what you need to do.
- Take referrals
Referrals are always the best place, to begin with when searching for a new pediatrician. Friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members who have babies or young children are your best source of information about a good practitioner or pediatrician in Silver Spring MD. Visiting a doctor who has been referred to by a friend or family member is always better than visiting a person who you know very little about. Also, the consultation and guidance you receive in such cases tend to be better, and more matched to your expectations, as you have already heard of them from a trusted person.
- Check listings or directories
In cases where you are unable to receive a referral to a pediatrician, visit your local health center. Or check out an online directory for registered practitioners. American Academy of Pediatrics is a good place for such searches. Many parenting and child health websites also give out information regarding pediatricians who practice in a certain area locality. You can make use of this information when no other means work out.
- Check for credentials and credibility
Another way to assess a good is by checking for credentials. Pediatrics, when listed with a registered or a well-recognized organization, tend to be better and far more credible than those who aren’t. Being a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics or a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner also adds value. This way, you also know that they are not faking their degrees and that you don’t end up in the wrong hands.
- Visit the doctor
Referrals and credential checks are one part of the game. Visiting the pediatric in person is the other. This is the part where you get to meet your doctor face to face. Your first visit to the pediatric need not necessarily happen with your child, but in fact, can happen even when your pregnant. When you consult with the pediatric clinic or hospital, pay attention to the behavior. It is ok to ask a pediatric if he or she is a parent because you want to be working with someone who shares same concerns about children as you do. You want your doctor to understand the mentality and mindset of being a parent and the worries that come with it.
A good pediatric in Gaithersburg, MD is someone who is extremely patient and willing to listen to your queries no matter how silly they sound. Such a doctor is also someone response to your queries patiently and in details and reassures you that everything is going to be fine. Through a one-on-one visit, you also get to determine how accessible your pediatric is. Assess the pediatric or clinic by the ease with which you can get an appointment, or connect with your doctor in case of an emergency. Yet another thing that you need to check for is whether the doctor has tie-ups with other physicians whose help may be required in specific cases. It is also wise to check with the pediatric for cover up when you need the doctor in case of his or her absence. A good doctor will always connect you with another practitioner who is available help you and your child out in your pediatrician’s absence.
Follow these aforementioned steps, and you can find a good pediatrician for your child, with ease.