During the time I was pregnant with my third child, I quit my job and lost the medical coverage I had with my employer. I had to switch to my husband’s insurance.
I was not happy about this because I had the most amazing family doctor who had taken such wonderful care of my boys and me. I was heartbroken he would no longer be able to care for my children. The thought of having to find and choose a new pediatrician was overwhelming. I knew how important our family doctor was in our lives. He helped us through some of the scariest times when my boys were ill or had been injured. Finding a new person to take his place was not something I wanted to do.
If you find yourself in a position where you have to find a pediatrician and don’t know where to start, here is my advice to you.
Ask friends, family and acquaintances in your area for recommendations. Once I started asking people about their pediatricians, I got an earful. One thing I learned is people are passionate about their pediatricians, as one should be.
I asked a lot of questions when talking to friends. Is the doctor friendly? How does he/she interact with the children? Is their staff friendly? Is their office clean? Does the doctor take time if you have questions? And so many other questions.
I was happy to learn there were several pediatricians in my HMO who were highly recommended by friends and family.
Once I had some recommendations in hand, I paid a visit to the offices to see for myself and to learn a little bit more about the doctor and the staff. Things worth asking?
Do you allow same day appointments?
If there are no appointments available with the doctor, who will see my child?
Should my child need emergency care, which hospital do you use?
What happens if my child gets sick on a weekend?
This is what worked for me, and I’m sure there are others out there who may have different advice. All I can offer is what I know from experience. Also, keep in mind, you can research pediatricians online. Google is your friend. 
If you successfully found a pediatrician, I’d love if you have more advice or tips to offer in the comments!
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