Changing homes? One of the first things you need to look into is finding a pediatrician you and your kids will love. Start your search by handily asking your current pediatrician for a recommendation.
Getting a referral even before you move clears a few things off your plate. By the time you get there, you’ll be so busy adjusting to your new home, work and environment, you’ll be happy you asked for that referral.
A referral helps cut down on the amount of time and effort you would’ve have spent scouring through lists of pediatricians in Carlsbad. However, if that referral doesn’t pan out, here are a few other tips from Parents you can certainly put to good use:
- Collect referrals. You can also ask for referrals from friends and family. If you still come up short for names of pediatricians in Carlsbad, check out the referral site for the American Academy of Pediatrics. That should give you plenty of choices for your list.
- Pay a visit. Check out the location of the clinic. Do you have easy access to it? Is it easy to drive there? Is there public transportation nearby? It’s always better if you find one that’s on your way to or from work so getting to your appointments would be convenient.
- Set an appointment. This is a good time as any to ask more information about the pediatrician. When you finally meet face to face, ask away. While asking about years of experience and qualifications is important, there are other questions that prove equally important: When is the doctor available? If your baby gets a sudden fever in the middle of the night, will the doctor be there to answer your call or would a nurse be on standby?
- Rapport. If everything else clicks, then what about rapport? You need to feel comfortable with your pediatrician. Given how long you’ll be seeing each other, it’s important that there be trust and rapport. If you think the pediatrician doesn’t have the same views you do—like for vaccines or breastfeeding, for instance—then you might want to look for someone who shares or respects your views.
Hopefully, these four tips will help you find the right pediatrician for you and your kids. For more information on how to get in touch with pediatricians in Carlsbad, call us at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group (CPCMG). With affiliations to over 100 board-certified pediatricians in more than 20 sites all over San Diego and southern Riverside, we have a team of qualified experts ready to provide your children with the best health care possible.
