Find A Pediatrician
Finding a good pediatrician is not easy. If you’ve recently purchased a child only health insurance policy, finding the best pediatrician for you kids can seem daunting. The good news is, with a little reasearch and some knowledge, you can find a pediatrician that will be the right fit for you kids.
When looking for a new doctor for your kids start by asking friends and co-workers for suggestions. You can also call and visit various pediatricians near you so that you can get to know them personally before you schedule an appointment. Even if a doctor’s office is very busy, you can learn a lot from how the office is run and the friendliness of the staff.
There’s no doubt that choosing the right doctor is one of the most personal decisions you’ll make, especially for your kids. Depending on your view of nutrition, excersise and vaccinations, finding the right doctor is important. Doctor’s have different personalities. Some have better bed side manners than others. Because your kids are little, they’re counting on you to find a pediatrician that makes them feel comfortable.
In this article we’re going to take a look at various factories to consider when choosing a pediatrician. We’ll try and provide you with the best information to help you make an informed decision. However, at the end of the finding the right doctor for you family is going to come down to you choosing one that is the right fit and feel for your specific needs. We specialize in health insurance for kids in Florida.
Gathering A List
Once you’ve looked through the list of doctors that are in your provider’s network and talked to friends about their suggestion, it might be helpful to make a list of doctors you’re interested in speaking with. Here are several steps you can take next to help you find a pediatrician that fits your family.
- Find out where each doctor received their training and how much experience they have.
- Find out if each doctor is board certified. All doctors must be licensed but some go a step further to become board certified in a specific field.
- Find out if any complaints have been registered or disciplinary action has been taken against any of the doctors. You can find out by calling your State Medical Licensing Board or state insurance department.
- Schedule a time where you can make a “get aquainted” appointment with each doctor. You should check if they charge a fee for this. It usually depends on each individual pediatrician.
- If a doctor is not available for a meeting, find out from their staff if they have a special focus within pediatrics. If the office you’re contacting has several doctors, be sure they are all included in your network.
- If you’re in a managed care plan, ask your member service staff of your plan and see if you can get some tips on which pediatricians are most popular.
The type of health care plan you choose will inevitably factor in to which doctor you choose. Sometimes you might find that a pediatrician is not the best option for your family. You may find that a “family medicine” specialist is a better fit for your kids. These doctors have training and experience in kid’s medicine. In fact, many of them started out at pediatricians but they now see adults too.
The great thing about a family medicine specialist is that if you decide to use them as your primary care physician, your entire family ends up seeing the same doctor. This usually means they’ll be more apt to make smart referrals if a member of the family needs to see a specialist.
These are just few things to consider when finding a pediatrician for your kids. If you have any other questions, please consult with the support staff of your health care plan or provider.