Tag Archives: pediatricians

Changing Pediatricians or Doctors

Maybe you have a fabulous pediatrician whom you love who is retiring, or you have changed health insurance plans and are being forced to change pediatricians, or your children have grown and you think a family doctor would be a better fit—there are myriad reasons why families need to change pediatricians or doctors—but that doesn’t make the process any less daunting. Here are some suggestions to help you through the process… First, don’t panic. You can take a little time to find someone you truly like and trust. Even if your insurance is changing and you’re feeling the pressure to … Continue reading →

The Well Child Plan

A recent article in USA Today discussed revisiting the Well Child plan. For those not familiar with the well child plan, these are the visits pediatricians plan to meet with infants and toddlers in order to assess that their development is on track. They do this by weighing, measuring and discussing how the infant and toddler is doing in a variety of areas is a way for pediatricians to catch everything from speech delays to mental development issues long before they become a problem. The issue that pediatricians are revisiting is the fact that Well Child visits are supposed to … Continue reading →

Working with Professionals and Avoiding the Pitfalls

You realize that your child has special needs, and now you feel as though you’re surrounded by a swarm of professionals, all giving you instructions and advice. The greater the degree of your child’s handicap, the more professionals you’re likely to deal with. How do you maintain your parental control, when you feel intimidated by these knowledgeable strangers? Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when dealing with these experts: Technical Lingo: Sometimes doctors, specialists, and even social workers start to speak in what seems like their own mysterious dialect. That’s because day after day as they deal with … Continue reading →

The “Professionals” Matching Game: Test Your Knowledge!

You learn your child has a disability, and suddenly in come “the professionals.” Your life becomes a maze of specialists, therapists, and other “ists.” It can become overwhelming. In this part one of my two-part blog on professionals, let’s test your knowledge of these 19 specialists and see if you can match them to their (very basic) job descriptions below: Professionals: Geneticist Endocrinologist Counselor Pediatrician Orthopedic Specialist Ophthalmologist Optometrist Psychiatrist Psychologist Speech & Language Pathologist Audiologist Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Neurologist Social Worker Special Education Teacher Behavioral Therapist Nutritionist Scientist/Researcher Basic Job Descriptions: A. Treats diseases of the eye. B. … Continue reading →

Choosing a Pediatrician or Specialist for Your Child

I’ll never forget the doctor’s visit where I sat across from my son’s pediatrician, describing his congenital cataract. I was very concerned about what it might mean. I had done a lot of research, and knew the possibilities. As I ran one scenario past the doctor, she gave me a blank look. She had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. “Have you heard of that condition?” I asked. Somewhat reluctantly, she admitted she never had. As I mentioned more concerns, she nervously turned her back and got out a notepad. “What were those terms again?” she asked. It … Continue reading →