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Pediatricians are important figures in the lives of parents and children alike, and it’s important to build a good relationship with your child’s doctor. Children often need frequent medical attention, and parents have an equally urgent need for reassurance that their children are healthy. Build a strong relationship with your child’s pediatrician by following these helpful guidelines, and make parenthood the happiest time of your life.
- Know When to Worry
Understand that pediatricians hold a unique place in the world. They are the people who receive endless phone calls from panicking parents whose children are, more often than not, perfectly healthy. If you have minor concerns about your child’s health, call during your pediatrician’s preferred phone-in times or send an email. Reserve your emergency phone calls for actual emergencies, and your child’s pediatrician is certain to be appreciative. It’s natural to be concerned for your child, but try to remain level-headed at the same time. - Be Specific About Symptoms
When you talk to your child’s doctor, be as specific and explicit as possible. General and vague descriptions are of no help to a doctor who is trying to diagnose your child. Keep track of symptoms and write them down if possible. Record fever temperatures. If your child starts vomiting, record how many times it happened. You spend more time with your child than anyone else, and your detailed accounts of symptoms will be key in diagnosing any possible illnesses or health problems. Don’t let your child’s pediatrician guess or attempt to read your mind. Be specific. - Don’t Expect Miracles
All medical treatments require time to take effect, so don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t recover immediately after a visit to the doctor. Even the best pediatricians are not miracle workers. Be reasonable about your expectations and understand that some things take time. Calling your child’s pediatrician repeatedly to question their medical knowledge will do nothing to help build a positive relationship. If your child is prescribed any medication or treatment, give it time to take effect. - Follow Instructions to the Letter
When doctors give their patients instructions, they expect them to be followed. Follow your pediatrician’s instructions carefully, or find another doctor. Failure to abide by instructions only serves to complicate the treatment process, making the pediatrician’s job even more difficult. Before you leave the doctor’s office, make sure you’ve understood every instruction and guideline, and don’t choose to follow only the instructions you like. Get everything in writing, if possible, and listen to your doctor’s advice. - Find Additional Help If Needed
Navigating the bureaucracy of medicine is difficult for many people, and that includes doctors. Your child’s pediatrician may not be have a textbook knowledge of every insurance bylaw, so find outside help for dealing with these matters. Specialized services like Premier Patient Line at http://www.premierpatientline.co.uk focus on exactly this kind of work. Talk to your doctor about medical issues. If you have financial or legal queries, talk to the people who know the answers to your questions.
Great post, and tips! Sometimes it is so hard with kids to recognize what is “real” what is not. Knowing your child so you tell the difference though is so important. Thanks for the post.