As a parent, you want to keep your child healthy and safe, for which you need help from a child specialist – pediatrician. A pediatrician is a doctor who acts as a primary care doctor for your child and provides individualized physical, behavioral, and mental care to your child.
Since you and your child will have a long-term with the pediatrician, it’s important to pick the right one. However, with so many options in your area, how do you choose the right one?
Let’s talk about 4 tips that can help you pick the right pediatrician for your child in Clearwater, FL.
Tip #1 Get Referrals and Recommendations
If you are a new parent, the good news is that you don’t have to search and choose a pediatrician alone. Your OB-GYN or family physician can recommend you a pediatrician. However, if you are new to an area and are looking for a new pediatrician, you can either ask your former pediatrician for a referral in your town or get recommendations from a local mom’s group, colleagues, and neighbors who have children.
Tip #2 Consider the Credentials
Once you get the referrals and recommendations, check the credentials of the pediatricians.
Like any other healthcare professional, board certification is also important when choosing a pediatrician. Board certification is a valuable tool that assures you that the pediatrician you will choose is highly qualified, trained, and knowledgeable in administering pediatric care. You can confirm the pediatrician’s certification status from the American Board of Pediatrics official website.
You can also find about the child’s education, training, history of malpractice, and disciplinary actions from the state’s website.
Tip #3 Consider the Personal Characteristics of the Pediatrician
Don’t hesitate to be selective when it comes to certain factors, such as age, gender, communication styles, etc., as these can influence your preference and your pediatrician’s ability to build rapport with your child.
It’s best to choose a pediatrician who shares your views on certain medical issues such as breastfeeding, circumcision, or vaccination, who respects your preferences, and whose demeanor is most compatible with you. You can evaluate the personal characteristics of the pediatrician by arranging a “get-to-know” session” with them.
Tip #4 Check your Insurance Coverage
Even if you find a pediatrician with the right experience, who is compassionate, conveniently located, and clicks with you, you probably won’t want to choose them if their practice is not in-network for your insurance plan and you have to pay out of every time you visit. So, it’s wise to choose a pediatrician that participates in your insurance plan.
As you select the pediatrician who participates in your plan, you should still consider the credentials, experience, outcomes, and practice quality.
Pediatrician in Clearwater, FL
If you’re in search of a child-friendly and reliable pediatrician, look no further than pediatricians at Children’s Medical Center. We have a team of 20 pediatricians who are committed to delivering the highest quality pediatric care. We also provide parents with as much information about their children as possible to guide our patients and their families on the path to optimal health. We also have bi-lingual, Spanish-speaking pediatricians.
To make an appointment with us, call today at the location nearest to you. or use our convenient patient portal to arrange a consultation if your child is our existing patient.
