Anna Rakovshik, MD Pediatrics Children’s Medical Group

May 25, 2010

This is part one of a two-part series. This month we are highlighting how to choose a pediatrician and next month we will focus on choosing a family medicine physician.

There are many questions parents have before descending on the journey of parenthood. Two that often rank among the top are “Do I need to find a pediatrician for my child?” and “When and how do I begin this search?”

A good place to start is to understand the difference between pediatricians and family medicine physicians. Pediatricians receive three years of specialized, child-focused medical training after completing medical school. It includes exposure to a broad spectrum of medical conditions and access to a child-focused medical community. The motto most pediatricians live by is that children are not small adults and have unique needs, which vary by age.

Family medicine physicians, on the other hand, receive an additional three years of training in the care of all family members after medical school. They will have greater awareness of the family medical history and care, as they are able to take care of everyone in the family.

Many parents question when they should begin looking for a pediatrician and the answer is that it’s never too early to start looking. Once you know you’re expecting, you can start the process of researching pediatricians.

The best place to start asking for recommendations is often from a parent or even close friends, co-workers or neighbors with children. You can ask who their pediatrician is and be sure to ask why they like their doctor. After getting some names of pediatricians to check out you can call to ask if you can meet with that pediatrician for a consult. Some offices provide consults at no charge and you can see if you connect with the doctor on a personal level.

The main characteristics to inquire about in a pediatrician include:

• Quality of medical education including medical school, residency, as well as previous experiences.
• Doctor’s ability to listen and understand patients’ concerns, educate and provide appropriate alternatives when necessary.
• Doctor’s inclination to overbook his/her appointment schedule in order to fit in more people. Make sure your doctor can spend a sufficient amount of time with your child and appointments aren’t rushed.
• Ability to reach the covering doctor during off hours.
• Practice’s reputation including experience of other doctors in the practice.

Initially, you will visit with your pediatrician frequently, so you also want to make sure the location is convenient. Talking to the staff at the office can be important, too, because happy and helpful staff can truly speak for the overall office environment.

The size of the practice should play a role in your decision as well. Large practices with many doctors can be impersonal or too busy. It may be difficult to access your doctor during off hours. However, there will generally always be a doctor available to see your child, which makes scheduling easier. A small practice can offer a very personable experience and is one that allows the doctors and staff to get to know you and your family well. Though, it may be harder to get an appointment depending on the doctor’s availability and how many other patients they care for.

In recent years, many websites have appeared on the Internet with regard to rating and scoring doctors’ performance. While it can be a source of information on a doctor, it’s important to keep in mind that it is not regulated and can be very subjective. The best way to check into a prospective doctor’s background is to contact the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.

All parents dream of the “perfect pediatrician” for their child—someone that can answer any question they have with patience, while providing gentle and friendly care to their little one. The “right” pediatrician can differ for everyone and will ultimately depend on how the pediatrician makes you and your child feel. Even though it requires a modest amount of effort to find your perfect fit, the payoff is definitely worth it.

Dr. Anna Rakovshik is a pediatrician at Children’s Medical Group/ North Shore Pediatrics and is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.