Being a parent is never easy.
We want only the best for our children.
We do what we can to make sure they are safe, eat as healthily as possible and do well in school.
When they get sick, we do what we can to see that they get better as fast as possible.
The search for your child's doctor, usually a pediatrician (or pediatra as they say in Spanish) should really begin during pregnancy - before the child is born.
It's a very important decision, as most likely your child will be seeing this doctor (or doctora as they say in Spanish) from newborn to age 18.
Many times mother's find success by getting referrals from friends.
This is a great place to start! Chances are good that if a trusted friend has had an amazing experience with a pediatrician, that you will too.
Other methods are searching doctors through the online review websites such as RateMD, or others.
Usually there is a search bar on those sites where you can type in the doctor's name, then are taken to the "results".
Keep in mind, however, that some of these sites have posts from "disgruntled" employees, etc.
so sometimes you have to do a little research on the person making the post (do they have other reviews, or did they just create an account to say negative things).
Either way, it can be a good idea to do further research on the doctor and turn up other reviews - on other sites.
This should give you a more accurate "over all" picture of the doctor you are considering.
The type of insurance your child has often dictates the choices of which pediatrician you can see.
Here in Southern California, many families are on Medi-Cal, so the choices would be limited to pediatricians who "accept" this coverage.
The problem with Medi-Cal is not all doctors accept it, and because the reimbursement rate for the doctors is on the low end - doctors often have Physician's Assistants see the child.
While they are often very capable, they are not medical doctors.
You don't really want the doctor to do a "walk by" outside the door, looking in smiling and waving, yet not doing the assessment, etc.
Another consideration is whether the doctor has achieved "board certification" in addition to the medical degree.
Why is it important that your pediatrician be board certified? A physician who has taken the extra step of achieving board certification has proven a minimum competency requirement.
There are several different "boards" in the United States, and not all of them are created equal.
The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), for example, was founded in 1933 and is one of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
They are a non-profit, independent organization.
Physicians that pass the difficult requirements to obtain certification now possess a certificate which is recognized around the world as signifying a high level of physician competence.
The American Board of Pediatrics one objective is "to promote excellence in medical care for children and adolescents.
" Nearly all qualified pediatricians seek ABP recognition.
Once you find a pediatrician you are comfortable, and whose qualifications meet your expectations, then it is important to establish on ongoing professional relationship.
This way, your pediatrician become almost a member of the family.
They come to really know your child, and therefore often can be more effective in assessing and diagnosing illness or other potential problems.
Finally, when you're satisfied with your choice, you may want to consider "telling your friends" about your pediatrician.
Word of mouth is often the best way to connect families to outstanding pediatricians.
We want only the best for our children.
We do what we can to make sure they are safe, eat as healthily as possible and do well in school.
When they get sick, we do what we can to see that they get better as fast as possible.
The search for your child's doctor, usually a pediatrician (or pediatra as they say in Spanish) should really begin during pregnancy - before the child is born.
It's a very important decision, as most likely your child will be seeing this doctor (or doctora as they say in Spanish) from newborn to age 18.
Many times mother's find success by getting referrals from friends.
This is a great place to start! Chances are good that if a trusted friend has had an amazing experience with a pediatrician, that you will too.
Other methods are searching doctors through the online review websites such as RateMD, or others.
Usually there is a search bar on those sites where you can type in the doctor's name, then are taken to the "results".
Keep in mind, however, that some of these sites have posts from "disgruntled" employees, etc.
so sometimes you have to do a little research on the person making the post (do they have other reviews, or did they just create an account to say negative things).
Either way, it can be a good idea to do further research on the doctor and turn up other reviews - on other sites.
This should give you a more accurate "over all" picture of the doctor you are considering.
The type of insurance your child has often dictates the choices of which pediatrician you can see.
Here in Southern California, many families are on Medi-Cal, so the choices would be limited to pediatricians who "accept" this coverage.
The problem with Medi-Cal is not all doctors accept it, and because the reimbursement rate for the doctors is on the low end - doctors often have Physician's Assistants see the child.
While they are often very capable, they are not medical doctors.
You don't really want the doctor to do a "walk by" outside the door, looking in smiling and waving, yet not doing the assessment, etc.
Another consideration is whether the doctor has achieved "board certification" in addition to the medical degree.
Why is it important that your pediatrician be board certified? A physician who has taken the extra step of achieving board certification has proven a minimum competency requirement.
There are several different "boards" in the United States, and not all of them are created equal.
The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), for example, was founded in 1933 and is one of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
They are a non-profit, independent organization.
Physicians that pass the difficult requirements to obtain certification now possess a certificate which is recognized around the world as signifying a high level of physician competence.
The American Board of Pediatrics one objective is "to promote excellence in medical care for children and adolescents.
" Nearly all qualified pediatricians seek ABP recognition.
Once you find a pediatrician you are comfortable, and whose qualifications meet your expectations, then it is important to establish on ongoing professional relationship.
This way, your pediatrician become almost a member of the family.
They come to really know your child, and therefore often can be more effective in assessing and diagnosing illness or other potential problems.
Finally, when you're satisfied with your choice, you may want to consider "telling your friends" about your pediatrician.
Word of mouth is often the best way to connect families to outstanding pediatricians.
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