Questions to Ask Before Choosing Your Child’s Doctor

On National Child Health Day, we have some guidelines to make choosing your child’s doctor pain free and simple. You can help your child grow healthy and strong with healthy food, support, and by taking them for regular checkups.

Choosing your child’s primary doctor, also called a pediatrician, is an important decision. From the time your child is just a newborn, you’ll bring him or her to the doctor for regular well-child checkups. Learn what to expect at well-child visits here.

These checkups should happen at the following ages:

• 3 to 5 days after birth
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 2½ years
• 3 years
• Each year after that until age 21

As you can see, your child’s doctor might be in his or her life for a long time, helping to keep your child healthy well into adolescence and beyond!

So before you decide on a pediatrician, consider the following questions. The answers to these questions can help you make the best, most informed choice possible.

The Doctor

• If you have health insurance, does the doctor or medical practice accept it? If you don’t have insurance, what are the doctor’s fees?
• Is the doctor certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)?
• Are there online reviews of the doctor? If so, are they generally good?
• Is the doctor friendly and informative?
• Does the doctor take the time to listen to your concerns and answer your questions?
• Is the doctor good with children? How does your child respond to the doctor?

Office Hours and Location

• Is the doctor’s office convenient to where you live or work, or is it near your child’s daycare center, school, or other care provider?
• Is the doctor’s office close to a subway station or other public transportation?
• If you have to drive, is parking nearby? Is there enough parking? Is the parking free or is there a cost?
• If you have a job, are the doctor’s office hours convenient to your work schedule? If not, does the doctor offer evening or weekend hours?
• Does the doctor offer same-day or sick appointments?

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Office Staff and Waiting Room

• Is the office staff helpful and friendly?
• Is the office staff clear about what to expect from the visit, how to fill out forms, and what estimated costs will be, if any?
• Is the waiting room clean and inviting?
• Does the waiting room have games or books for your child?
• How long is the typical wait time before you and your child can see the doctor?

Communication

• Is it easy to reach the doctor by phone, and does the doctor return your phone calls in a timely manner?
• How does the doctor or the office staff follow up with test results, referrals, or billing?
• Does the doctor offer phone consultations for those times when you might not be able to get to the office? If the doctor is unavailable, is there another doctor or nurse who can take your call?
• If it’s a group practice and your child’s doctor is unavailable, is there another doctor available to see you and your child?
• Are the prescriptions or other instructions/paperwork you receive easy to understand?

Always remember that you know your child best. If the pediatrician you choose isn’t right for you and your child, talk to him or her to see whether your concerns can be addressed. If they cannot, use it as a chance to find another doctor who might be a better fit. You have options.

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If you live in New York City, Long Island, Orange, Sullivan, or Westchester County and want more information about our health plans, please here.