Our children are the most precious people in our lives, and we strive to make sure they are happy and healthy. When your child is sick or needs a checkup, you need a professional doctor you can trust. Your child also needs to feel safe with that doctor, so he or she isn’t afraid. The right doctor makes all the difference.
Your pediatrician can help monitor your child’s well-being and address any issues as the child grows up. With the right doctor, you can feel like you have a team around you that can assist your child. Sometimes, the health care needs of your little one may warrant taking him or her to a specialist, in addition to working closely with that child’s regular doctor.
Finding a Great Doctor
Finding a great doctor doesn’t happen by chance. You need to do your homework, and you need to ask questions. There is no shortage of La Jolla pediatricians, so don’t settle for one you don’t really care about. Talk to your friends, family members, and even people you work with who have children. Who do they take their kids to and why?
Location can also play a role in finding a great doctor. It makes sense you want a pediatrician close to your home. You don’t want to drive all over town when your child has an appointment. However, many parents will tell you if their child’s doctor was to relocate, they would drive up to an hour to still be able to see him.
Excellent Communication
When your child doesn’t feel well, you will worry—that is what parents do. Excellent communication is essential with the doctor taking care of your child. You need to know he will keep you well informed. When he can’t tend to your child, who will? It is also a good idea to find out who the backup doctor is that would take over in their absence.
Hours
Your child isn’t going to be sick or hurt only during daytime hours. There are times when you need access to pediatricians on the weekends, at night, or during a holiday. Find someone who offers twenty-four-hour emergency care. You can call their answering service, and they will get in touch with the doctor. You may be given instructions to take your child to the ER or to go to the doctor’s office. It depends on the situation.
For routine checkups and sports physicals, you can use regular office hours to get them done. You should be able to call the office and make an appointment to get such paperwork done. Some pediatricians have extended hours one day a week. This helps accommodate a variety of schedules, so you don’t have to take off work early. Click here for more details.