Questions to Ask a New Doctor for a Child

One of the most important parts of taking care of your child is making sure she is healthy and helping her to get better when she is sick. Your family doctor or pediatrician plays an essential role because he treats your child when she has an illness that you cannot cure with chicken noodle soup and fluids. When choosing a doctor for your child, you will want to ask questions to get a sense of how much experience he has and how his office operates.

Background Information

• When you are assessing potential doctors, you need know about their educational backgrounds. You should ask questions about where the doctors went to school, did their residencies and worked in the past. Knowing where they studied and gained experience can help you better understand how much knowledge and training doctors have.

  You could also inquire about training programs they have gone through and certifications they have received. You want to make sure that a doctor is certified to practice medicine before letting him treat your child.

Specialities

• When you take your children to see a doctor, you want to know what she specializes in so that you can make a decision on whether you would like her to treat your child for a certain condition. You especially want to know about a doctor's experience if she is treating your child for a serious condition¸ such as cancer. While there may be several doctors in your area that specialize in a certain field of medicine, one may have expertise in a specific childhood disease or condition.

  You should ask about how many patients a doctor regularly treats with the condition and how she treats and diagnoses her patients. Try to get a sense of what procedures and medications a doctor uses to treat patients, and ask about the complications and side effects of such treatments.

Records and Staff Members

• When you are looking for a doctor, ask about how he and his staff members would handle your child's information. To ensure that your child receives the best care possible, you need to know that your doctor will be able to access her medical history quickly. Thorough records can ensure that your doctor knows what medications your child is allergic to, what medical problems she has had, what medications she has taken, and what surgeries and procedures she has had.

  You also will want to ask about a doctor's staff. Ask what other doctors the physician works with and how many assistants and nurses he has, especially if you are looking for a small doctor's office where the doctor and staff will know your child personally.

Monetary Concerns

• Before deciding on a doctor for your child, you need to know whether he will accept your insurance. If a doctor does not take your insurance, you will have to pay his fees, which could be very expensive. You also will want to get a sense of what services your insurance company will not pay.

  If you do not have insurance, you should ask about your doctor's fees and payment programs. You also could inquire about whether you can enroll your child in a plan that will help save you money on fees.