Making sure your child receives the very best care is of the highest priority when it comes to great parenting. What this means is that it’s crucial to make the right decisions about your child’s healthcare so that you’re not left in a bind if an emergency comes up, but also because it’s important to find the right physician who can be there for you and your family as your child grows. If you’re in the process of sorting through all of the many options for Pasadena pediatric physicians, here is a guide for all of the different considerations you should be taking into account.
Location & Convenience
When you’re first creating your shortlist of potential pediatricians, the most important first step is to narrow it down so that you’re only considering locations that are feasible and sustainable for you and your family. While the best pediatrician in the state might be a few towns over, will you really be able to commit to a 3-hour drive every single time you need to bring your child for a check-up or make an appointment if they’re not feeling well? It’s important to make sure your pediatrician lives within a reasonable distance, has hours that are accessible to you and your family around work and is in a location you feel comfortable navigating through. For peak convenience, narrow down your search to pediatricians that are close to home, work, daycare, or school as this will save time and be highly sustainable in the long run. Finally, if you don’t own a vehicle, make sure you’re keeping public transit routes in mind for accessibility purposes!
Insurance
Once you have narrowed down some potential options, it’s time to do a more thorough exploration of each one. The next big hurdle will be insurance, and this step can be a challenge so it’s important to set aside a decent amount of time to do this research. Making sure you learn what will be covered and what sort of out-of-pocket expenses there will be at each of your potential locations is super important to thoroughly explore. You should also do this not just when you’re researching regular pediatricians, but also to make sure you have a thorough list of pediatric urgent care options in case of any emergencies. The last thing you want to be doing if something urgent comes up is checking your coverage, so it’s incredibly important to do this ahead of time and have your list of eligible Pasadena pediatricians and Pasadena urgent care clinics on hand.
Talk to Your OB-GYN
When you’re looking for a pediatrician, another great place to start narrowing down your options is to see if your OB-GYN has any recommendations. Especially if you’re looking for infant care, you’ve likely developed a trusting and positive relationship with your OB-GYN throughout your pregnancy. Chances are they know you pretty well at this point, and might have an idea of pediatricians who would be a good fit for you and your family. In addition to your OB-GYN, you might also have great relationships with your family doctor or primary care physician, and they would be another good place to start when it comes to pediatrician referrals.
Family and Friends Referrals
While physicians are the obvious place to start when it comes to referrals, don’t forget to also speak with your friends and family to see if they have anyone amazing they’d recommend. When looking for word-of-mouth recommendations, it’s so incredibly important to make sure you’re asking about both positive experiences as well as any negative experiences they might have had with pediatricians in the area. You want to make sure you’re covering all your bases and avoiding sub-par care.
Checking Credentials
Make sure your pediatrician has a broad range of experience and credentials through checking on their website. You’ll be looking for a location that can provide holistic care with services for treating infants, children, and adolescents. This way you won’t have to continually search for a new location as your child grows, but they can continue to find care at the same clinic. The benefit of this is that record keeping will be much easier if you’re at the same location, and the continuity of care means your pediatrician will have an in-depth knowledge of your child and their needs as they grow up.
Up to Date with Current Practices
Now that you’ve narrowed down your options to a few choices, it’s time to do some more in-person visiting and practice specific research. As we all know, healthcare practices and treatments are consistently advancing, and you want to make sure that your pediatrician stays up to date on all the current medical practices. Make sure to add this to your list of questions and find out how their practice is staying up-to-date with standards of care.
Ask Questions and Do a Test Visit
The last and most important point when it comes to finding a new pediatrician is to ask questions and do a test-run appointment! Be open during your visit, explain you’re searching for the best care for your child, and ask questions. Make sure you chat about things like their personal philosophies when it comes to treatment, and make sure you’re open and honest about your parenting and care style. You want to ensure your pediatrician is on the same page as you when it comes to treatment, and that your principles are aligned. Don’t forget to observe the pediatrician throughout the visit and watch how they interact with your child. If there is good and engaging communication and you seem to gel with them as well with your parenting and care philosophies, then this might just be the perfect fit!
We Have Your Pasadena Pediatrics Covered!
If you’re looking for exceptional pediatric care in the Pasadena area, come and visit us at Advanced Urgent Care Pasadena. Our incredible physicians will be able to provide for all the health needs of you and your family, and our 24-hour services mean that you and your loved ones will be well taken care of day or night. Get in touch today to learn more about all of the incredible services we offer, and why you should add us to your list of Pasadena pediatric care centers.
