How to Get the Best Care From Your Child’s Doctor

Recently, I examined a 3-year-old boy because he had been suffering from a fever for more than
four days. His mom had tried some home remedies, but the fever persisted.

I examined the boy
and discovered he had a bad ear infection. I recommended a course of antibiotics, which would get
the infection under control and relieve the child’s pain.

“No, I won’t do that,” this mom
responded.

She’d apparently been reading about antibiotics and how doctors overuse them, even
for viruses for which they are ineffective. On this point she was correct, but I explained that her
son had a clearly diagnosed ear infection. Without proper treatment, the consequences could be quite
serious. The mom finally agreed to the antibiotics, and after a few days, her son was back to
normal.

Parents may think, Why argue with the doctor? Others may agree with the
mother, believing doctors are too quick to medicate children.

In recent years, there has been
increased suspicion about physicians’ motives for practicing medicine. This is due in part to
health-care changes, but also to the ease with which parents can research and discuss medical topics
online. There’s some good information out there, but there’s also much bad information, which may
cause parents to feel that they cannot fully trust their pediatrician to have their child’s best
interest at heart.

Some pediatricians may have suspect motives, but I’m convinced that the
vast majority of these professionals love their jobs because they genuinely care for children. Here
are five ways to enjoy a positive relationship with your child’s pediatrician so your child gets the
best possible care:

Find a pediatrician you’re comfortable with

I once read that one out of every four people whom pediatricians meet will have a negative
impression of them. I’m not sure how accurate that figure is, but there is some truth to it. Not all
parents are going to mesh with their child’s pediatricians. Sometimes it may simply be that your
personalities do not work well together.

Having a good relationship with your child’s
pediatrician is important, so if your personalities are clashing, it’s OK to switch doctors, even to
a doctor in the same medical practice. I have heard many patients say that they don’t want to switch
doctors because they are concerned about hurting the doctor’s feelings. Please don’t worry about
this. We understand that we are not going to click with every patient. In my practice, we have had
patients move from one doctor to another, and I have never heard a physician complain about it. We
want you and your child to feel comfortable at all times.

Become well-read about your child’s health

In my experience, the more parents know about their child’s health needs, the better. That means
that most pediatricians want you to learn the developmental milestones your child should be
reaching or when antibiotics should be administered. Your interest makes our jobs easier and makes
the care we provide more effective.

However, it is critically important to read reputable
materials. Sources that relate anecdotal stories in order to frighten parents can do more harm than
help. Seek medical information from well-researched books and websites created by medical
professionals with good reputations.

Talk openly with your child’s pediatrician

Some parents think pediatricians just want to tell them what to do, so they’re reluctant to ask
questions or discuss our expert advice. But pediatricians understand that parents are our patients,
too, and there needs to be constructive dialogue between the pediatrician and parent. We quickly
learn that if we cannot communicate with parents, then we cannot adequately care for children.

If you don’t ask questions and openly express your concerns, your relationship with your doctor
will begin to fall apart. The mother who was initially skeptical of my antibiotic prescription was
open about her concerns. That allowed us to have a conversation about her concerns, which led to a
positive outcome for her child.

Ask about credentials

Pediatricians are constantly learning. We must read the latest research, keep up with new
medications, understand new diagnostic tools and research the changes with immunizations. We are
required to log a certain number of medical education hours every year, as well as face periodic
national board exams. We are aware of medical progress, and we use best practices to improve our
care of your children. When you take your child to a qualified pediatrician, you can be confident
that he or she is keeping up with the latest information in a field that is constantly changing.

Some parents may question whether their child’s pediatrician is fully qualified, wondering if the
doctor is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. If you are unclear, do not be shy about
asking to see the doctor’s credentials. Many pediatricians place their certificates in a public area
so parents and patients can see them. And when you talk with your pediatrician, it is always OK to
ask questions about his or her practice and qualifications.

Understand that red tape can sometimes affect the care your child receives

Pediatricians are more regulated than most parents realize. Gone are the days when doctors could
independently decide how long to keep a sick child in the hospital, what to charge for a well-child
visit and what options to give parents. In many large cities, pediatricians don’t run their
practices. They are employees of a hospital or other medical facility. This is actually frustrating
to many doctors because we don’t have full control over patient care.

Worse, many insurance
companies monitor our performance. This may sound good on paper, but what this really means is that
a group of people — oftentimes people who are not medically trained — create a list of
“good practices” that pediatricians are required to complete. On-time vaccinations are one of those
“good practices.” If you are looking for a pediatrician and the receptionist asks whether you are
willing to immunize your child, she’s not trying to be pushy. The pediatricians in that office are
under pressure to immunize their patients on time.

The goal of most pediatricians is to help
you get the best care for your child. Although health-care professionals must work within the
constraints of external regulations, your child’s doctor has the same goal you do: to keep your
child healthy.

Dr. Meg Meeker is a pediatrician in Michigan and a best-selling author of several books on
parenting healthy kids.

What If Your Doctor Lets You Down?

Every physician is a human being, and people sometimes make mistakes. For doctors, some of the
mistakes have dire consequences. Thankfully, for most doctors there are enough checks and balances
to keep the fallout of those mistakes to a minimum. One of the best checks is parental
intuition.

Parents, never stop listening to that small voice inside you that asks, Are
you sure this is right? If the pediatrician’s words don’t sit well with you, trust your
instincts and speak up.

Recently, I learned of one mom’s experience with her child’s
pediatrician. She took her 13-year-old son to the doctor. After the checkup, the pediatrician
advised the boy (in front of his mother) that he could begin having sex when he felt “ready.” This
doctor recommended using condoms, but his willingness to sidestep the parents on this issue
surprised me. And from a medical standpoint, I questioned whether this doctor was familiar with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report about how the U.S. currently suffers from a
sexually transmitted disease epidemic, which has in recent years hit teens the hardest.

Doctors, teachers and sex educators do make mistakes. And they are in no way immune from the
pressures and agendas of our culture. That’s why parents need to be informed, and listen to their
instincts.

—MM