Finding The Right Pediatrician For Your Child

The pediatricians at Downer's Grove Pediatrics in Downer's Grove and Bolingbrook, IL, know that choosing a pediatrician for your child can be a little overwhelming. If you pick a name at random, you could find a wonderful pediatrician or one who just isn't the right fit for you and your family. Fortunately, these tips can help make your decision a little easier.

Make a list of pediatricians in your area

Decide how far you're willing to travel to see a pediatrician, then make a list of all the doctors in that area. For convenience's sake, look for a pediatrician whose office is close to your home, your job, and your child's school or daycare facility.

Ask for recommendations

Friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers are excellent sources for recommendations. In addition to asking for names of doctors, find out why your friend recommends a particular pediatrician and what he or she thinks of the office in general. Are the staff friendly? Can they make appointments easily? If you're pregnant, your OB/GYN can probably make a few recommendations.

Check your healthcare insurer's list of providers

Most healthcare plans include a list of participating doctors on their websites. The list can be a good starting point or help you narrow down your choices after you receive a few recommendations. (Since websites aren't always updated immediately, it's a good idea to make insurance coverage the first question you ask when calling pediatricians in the Downer's Grove and Bolingbrook, IL, areas.)

Visit a few offices

Once you've found a few good choices, call the offices and ask if you and your children can come by for an informational visit. During the visit, you can meet the doctors and office staff and ask a few questions, including:

• Are same-day appointments available for sick children?
• How long is the wait for well-child visits?
• What is the best way to contact the office if you have a question - phone, email or patient portal?
• How long have the doctors been practicing pediatrics? Do they have special areas of interest or specific ages they prefer to treat?

Do you need to find a pediatrician for your child? The Downer's Grove and Bolingbrook, IL, doctors at Downer's Grove Pediatrics offer caring, compassionate healthcare services for children of all ages. Call (630) 759-9230 to schedule an appointment at the Bolingbrook office or (630) 852-4551 to reach the Downer's Grove office.