How to Choose A DOCTOR FOR Your Baby From the moment you learn you’re expecting a baby, you probably start to plan. Maybe you’ll plan how his or her nursery will look, what his or her name will be, or if he or she will be fed breast milk, formula or a combination of the two.

Though it might not seem like an urgent matter while your baby is in utero, choosing the right doctor for your child is just as important as picking out a crib or deciding what he or she will be fed.

1 What are My Options?

Your baby can see a pediatrician, a family doctor or a pediatric nurse practitioner for his or her medical care.

A pediatrician, or doctor specializing in , has had specialized training that focuses solely on the health of children from birth to 21 years. A family doctor can treat of all ages from birth through adulthood. He or she has had training in a variety of areas including pediatrics, internal and obstetrics and gynecology.

A pediatric nurse practitioner has a master’s degree in nursing, and like a pediatrician, has chosen to focus solely on the care of children, teens and young adults. He or she can perform physical exams, make diagnoses, write prescriptions and provide treatment. If a pediatric nurse practitioner encounters a difficult medical case, he or she usually will consult with a doctor.

Pediatrician

Family Doctor

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

2 Questions to Ask Tips for • Which have given you privileges?

• Do you have a nurse line to Choosing a Provider answer routine questions?

• How do you handle after-hours emergencies The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or questions? recommends beginning your search by asking fellow • Do other cover parents or your obstetrician for recommendations. for you? • Do you communicate by email? If you’re new to an area, the AAP suggests contacting your county’s medical society, or local hospitals for a list of pediatricians in your area. • Do you use electronic medical records?

If a parent gives you a recommendation, asking the following questions can • What are your philosophies on breastfeeding, use of help you narrow down your search: antibiotics, co-sleeping (or any • How does your child respond to the doctor and how does your doctor other parenting issue respond to your child? important to you)? • How do you handle referrals • Does the doctor give you time to ask questions? if my child needs to see • What is the wait time usually like? a specialist?

• If it is a multi- practice, do you like the other physicians? • • • • • Is there anything you don’t like? Other Do your research: Now that you’ve got a list of recommendations, research Considerations: each candidate. Consider: • Are the office staff and • Is he or she accepting new patients? nurses compassionate and courteous? • His or her stance on issues that are important to you. These can • Do you feel rushed during include issues like breastfeeding, , co-sleeping or your visit? baby wearing. • Does the doctor • The office hours and location of each office. Pay attention to whether communicate clearly and the office is conveniently located near your home or your child’s make an effort to answer all your questions? day care. • Are the exam rooms and • If the office has separate entrances for sick and well patients. waiting areas clean?

• If the provider is participating in your health insurance plan. • Do you trust the doctor?

3 Use the Administrators in Medicine portal to discover the licensing background of each physician and whether any disciplinary actions have been taken against them. Or you can check your state’s medical board for a searchable list of physicians. The AAP also maintains a list of Fellows of the American of Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

Make an appointment to interview each doctor: Once you’ve narrowed down your list, make an appointment with each doctor for an interview.

Consider his or her experience: If your child has a specific condition, a provider’s experience may play a role in your consideration process. If your child’s condition requires him or her to have procedures, ask how many procedures the doctor has completed and the complication rates.

Know whether the doctor is in-network: Seeing a doctor that is in-network with your health insurance provider results in lower costs for you. Keep in mind, however, that just because a physician accepts your insurance doesn’t mean he or she is in your provider’s network. To determine if a doctor you like is in your health insurance network, call the customer service number on your insurance card and verify his or her network status.

Don’t forget about quality and location: Research the hospitals where your doctor is affiliated and keep in mind each hospital’s ratings and location.

4 A Checklist for Checkups

During your child’s first months of life, you will be making several trips to the doctor’s office for checkups.

These visits make sure your child is meeting his or her growth and developmental milestones and will be used to administer appropriate . After his or her first birthday, the frequency of well visits decreases. Here’s what a typical schedule looks like. Typical Checkup Ages What to Expect at a Checkup • 2 to 5 days Babyhood and childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. To make sure your baby is on track and to • 2 months look for any signs of infection or disease, the doctor • 4 months will usually examine your baby’s head, mouth, ears, • 6 months skin, and lungs, hips and legs, genitalia, eyes and • 9 months abdomen. • 12 months

• 18 months In addition to administering necessary vaccines and • 2 years evaluating your baby, the doctor may ask about your baby’s • Yearly after age 2 activities, discuss his or her sleeping and eating habits, check his or her vision and hearing and ask you about any special concerns you have.

Expecting a baby is an exciting time full of preparation and planning. Incorporating the search for a doctor for your baby into your planning can ensure you have the right professional ready to care for your newest family member when he or she arrives.

Ready to start your search? Meet Ohio Medical Group’s dedicated family physicians specializing in pediatric care.

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