Children's Health Children's Health Basics

How to Choose a Pediatrician

As a general pediatrician, I frequently speak with both current and expecting parents about choosing a pediatrician. Many parents are not aware of the importance of selecting the right doctor for their children, or of how to go about doing it.

Why Choose A Pediatrician To Care For Your Child?
In deciding on a health care provider for your children, you can choose from among a variety of different professionals, including pediatricians, general practitioners, family physicians, and nurse practitioners. A general or family physician may treat your children along with your entire family. These physicians have less pediatric training than pediatricians, but are licensed to care for children.

A family or pediatric nurse practitioner is a nurse with additional training to provide independent care for your child, in partnership with a licensed physician. There may be one or more nurse practitioners working in a pediatrician's office. An important point to keep in mind, however, is that children and adolescents have very specific health and behavioral needs. Pediatricians have the most comprehensive medical training to respond to these needs.

How Are Pediatricians Trained?
Pediatricians are medical doctors who have usually completed four years of college, followed by four years of medical school and three years of residency (on-the-job training). Some pediatricians have additional subspecialty training beyond residency. Residency training prepares pediatricians to help meet the needs of healthy children in such areas as normal growth, development, nutrition and behavior. They are also trained to recognize and treat both common and unusual illnesses and injuries that may occur.

After residency, the doctor may take a comprehensive exam given by the American Board of Pediatrics. If the pediatrician passes this exam, he or she is considered to be board-certified, and is then eligible to become a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

When Should You Look For A New Pediatrician?
Parents may seek a new pediatrician for several reasons. The most common is that they are expecting a first child. Or, they may have moved to a new area, changed insurance coverage, or be unhappy with their prior health care provider. Whatever your reason for looking for a pediatrician, it is important to choose one as soon as possible and not wait for your child to be ill. During pregnancy, it is wise to find a pediatrician by the beginning of the third trimester, or seventh month, of gestation.

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