We have had a difficult time with doctors ever since our 15-month old son began to plummet on the growth charts at around nine months. It seemed that everyone who saw our son was either judgmental or complacent, neither of which helped the situation. This led us on a quest to find the perfect doctor, which was the best decision we could have possibly made for our little boy. Although we initially loved our first pediatrician after interviewing him and he came highly recommended locally, he wasn’t the right fit for our family. This begs the question, when should parents start shopping around for a new pediatrician?
Sometimes it isn’t a matter of “good doctor” versus “bad doctor”. A pediatrician must meet a specific set of criteria for each family. A solid education and friends in the medical community only tells a parent so much. After all, when is bedside manner more important than when dealing with a child? Not only should a pediatrician relate well to the child, but to the mother and father, as well. A cold doctor will only make a concerned parent or a sick youngster feel even worse. In our case, our doctor seemed to fit the bill in the interview, but showed a smug side later. In essence, once he got our business, it seemed he didn’t have to put on the charm as much. This was our first red flag.
When your pediatrician isn’t relating well to you and/or your child, address the problem immediately. After all, he/she works for you and not the other way around. Communication problems can be hazardous to your child’s health. In our case, whereby our son had completely stopped growing, we wasted months with a doctor who ignored some very serious symptoms. Another aspect of doctor/patient communication involves the clinic’s staff. In some cases, poor staffing can be cause to change doctors. Receptionists, nurses and other employees in the office should be held to the flame when they drop the ball, as well. This all concerns your child’s health, which is always serious.
Should your doctor make some suggestions or judgment calls that you find questionable, you are always entitled to a second opinion. A decent doctor will understand, nay, respect your tenacity in receiving the best healthcare for your child. When our doctor repeatedly told us that our son wasn’t eating enough, we implored him that our son was. Still he ignored what another pediatrician later revealed to be Celiac disease. Although our case was extreme in that our son was being misdiagnosed while suffering from a serious disorder, one should always be diligent in expecting the best from a pediatrician. The best time to change doctors is simply any time things stop feeling right for you or your child.