If you’re in the final stretch of your pregnancy, you’re probably busy making all the necessary preparations for your baby’s arrival: picking a car seat, getting baby clothes and a crib, painting the nursery, etc. But have you chosen a pediatrician yet? If not, it’s time that you do.
Choosing a pediatrician is an important personal decision, and thus, it is imperative that you take some effort into looking for the right combination of expertise, professionalism, genuine concern, transparency, patience, and compatibility. After all, your child’s health and well-being are too precious to entrust to the wrong person. Also, your pediatrician is essentially your partner and your advisor, who will guide you through many important decisions about your child’s health in the next 18 years, so it is important to choose the one you feel comfortable and confident working with.
Keep the following tips in mind when searching for and choosing the right pediatrician for your child.
1.) Get a referral from your OB/GYN or family doctor.
You don’t have to do all the searching and choosing alone: get a recommendation from your OB/GYN or family physician or both. By now, you must have established a friendly relationship with either of these healthcare professionals.
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Consider the credentials.
Like choosing any other type of healthcare professional to work with, board certification is an important factor to consider when choosing a pediatrician. It is a valuable tool that gives you the assurance that the pediatrician is highly qualified and knowledgeable, and has maintained their expertise.
Once you get referrals, check their certification status using the provider portal of the American Board of Pediatrics. Additionally, it helps to check medical review websites to ascertain that the pediatrician is clear of any malpractice claims.
3.) Make an appointment.
Meeting with the pediatrician in person gives you a first-hand experience of their bedside manner and communication style. It also helps you ascertain your compatibility.
Observe how the pediatrician interacts with you (and your partner) and answers your questions. If you are comfortable with them and confident in their expertise and that they have your child’s best interests in mind, then they are likely the ones you’re looking for.
Reliable Pediatrician in Palm Harbor, FL
At Children’s Medical Center, our team includes 20 highly credentialed pediatricians who pride themselves on their professionalism, genuine compassion and unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality of care. We also take great pleasure in providing parents with useful information, which we believe will have an appreciable impact on how they shape their children’s health habits.
To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation with one of our pediatricians, call us today at one of our offices: Palm Harbor office- (727) 787-6335, Westchase office- (813) 891-6501, Trinity office- (727) 376-8404, or Lutz office- (813) 751-3131.
