ISO The “Perfect” Pediatrician

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I had a Goldilocks moment in search of a pediatrician.

Our first experience was an information session for a large, popular practice. The session started an hour late! The doctor encouraged us to schedule our first year of well-visits with all of the doctors, instead of getting to know one and there was a fee for after-hours calls, which would be handled by a call center. This wasn’t the service we were looking for.

My next appointment was with a one-woman practice who told me I was the first person to ever interview her. She was nice enough, but she didn’t feel like the right fit either.

Finally, I met with our current three-doctor practice, and my decision was made. Over the years, doctors have come and gone from the practice, but my daughters have consistently received wonderful care. Scheduling appointments has always been easy and the practice also offers convenient walk-in hours every morning. We rarely wait for our appointment to begin, and we’re never rushed to leave. On weekdays I can call and speak to a nurse, and after-hours calls are always returned quickly by a doctor. This practice has been “perfect” for us.

It could happen to you…

This summer, I brought my daughter to see our pediatrician on day five of a high fever. The next day, after all of her test results were in, the doctor referred us to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, our doctor did not have privileges at the hospital, so I assumed that we’d be starting anew. Lucky for us, I was wrong!

When we met with the doctor in the Emergency Room, he already knew who we were, why we were there, and all the test results from the day before. Not long after we met with him, our pediatrician texted me to check in. This continued for all four days of our stay. Our pediatrician was in contact with each day’s attending pediatrician, and regularly checked in with me to see how my daughter was feeling. She went above and beyond, and even came to visit. We are so grateful for her.

The questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you love your pediatrician(s)?
• Do you trust their education, experience, and expertise?
• Are you working together as a team to give your child(ren) the best care possible?

I know I’m not the only patient-mom who loves their pediatrician, and here’s the thing… the pediatricians/practices are all different! I do believe that there’s a “perfect” pediatrician for everyone, and if you haven’t found yours yet, I encourage you to look further.