Questions for a Pediatrician?

[jgeetter]

We are meeting with a potential pediatrician -- does anyone have suggestions on important questions to ask?

[Anonymous]

Here's a list I put together when we met with a pediatrician last month. I got ideas from several websites and these were the ones that were important to me. I'm sure there are other important questions I'm not thinking of...and I'd love to get other suggestions b/c we're meeting with two more in the next week or so.

Here's my list:

1. Do they take [insert your insurance]?

2. Will we always see the same doctor?

3. Evening/weekend hours available?

4. Are parents encouraged to call for routine/non-emergency questions? Will we talk to the doctor or nurse? Is there a fee?

5. Does the doctor see the baby at [insert hospital where you'll be delivering]? If not, when would we need to bring the baby in?

6. Frequency of well-baby visits in the first year?

7. Lactation consultant on staff/help with nursing problems?

8. Will the baby be seen on the same day if he is sick?

9. General philosophy:
• Parenting methods (any one in particular?)
• Breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding
• Circumcision
• Antibiotics/Views on alternative medicine
• Immunizations (spacing out an option?)
• Importance of going organic when baby starts on solids; organic sheets, etc; organic skin care products?

[jgeetter]

This is a great list...thank you, thank you. We are also planning to ask:

1. Average wait-time for an appointment?
2. Routine tests/procedures in the first year?
3. Where the doctor has staff privileges (ie, at what hospital(s) can he see patients)?
4. How soon after birth does s/he want to see the baby? Is it always possible to get that appointment on short notice?
5. Can we always be seen in the same office location?
6. Expectation of parents?