Good Pediatrician?

Sorry for the late response. My children have went to the same Ped. since my oldest (now 17) was two weeks old. They see Dr. James Carter at Memphis and Shelby County pediatrics they also have two offices one in Whitehaven and one in East Memphis, near Value City. I live in Marion now and still take them there. He always explains to me what's going on in everyday terms, doesn't use the BIG medical words; he even offered to come to my yougest daughter's class to talk about healthy bodies. HE IS GREAT.

I recommend Wake Forest Pediatric's off of Route 1A Near Walmart. They are directly behind the Taco Bell. My daughter has been going to them since she was 4 and the practice is excellent. They discovered that she has High Cholestrol and immediately sent her to a specialist from Duke.

i love my pediatrician, and i think that it is such a personal thing. i think that the most important things are to find someone who really listens when you ask questions, or voice concerns. my child's doctor is always telling me what a great job i am doing, and how great the kids look, and behave. i think that he probably says that to every one, but it really makes you feel great. when i had an issue with a temporary nurse that he had, i told him i wanted my daughter seen by the other nurse instead, and he didn't even ask why, just told me that it was no problem, and got the other nurse for me. just find someone who listens, and lets you parent the way you want to, with little interference.

Bedside manner is especially important and how they talk to and interact with your child. The doctor can be a traumatic experience for little impressionable ones...

If you are in S. Charlotte, I would highly recommend Arboretum Pediatrics. Dr. Satterfield and Dr. Dorsey are absolutely awesome! They came highly recommended also. They really care and are so good with my daughter. They also see my nephews and have had a huge positive influence on them over the years.

I agree with Sara S. I think it's such a personal thing. I find, even between my friends and I, we all want different things in a pediatrician and the office. I like my children's pediatrician (we've been going to the same one since my son was born three and a half years ago, and I also have an 18-month-old daughter now) and the office staff lots! They are kind, I have an easy time getting my children in to see the doctor (sick or well), everyone is friendly, I feel comfortable there, my kids have always seen just their physician. I'm very happy with our pediatrician ... and I think it's just something you either feel happy with or don't. And, if you don't ... definitely switch! ;) Good luck!

Hey A., I guess I never had this problem, B/c I have been a Peds Nurse for 8 years. But the Doc's I work for are wonderful. Yo just have to go see one and see how there personality is. You can also schedule what is called a Meet and Greet, No charge!!!!! you go and sit with the Doctor with or without kids and just talk with them, it lets you know if you are going to like there personality. Who do you go to now if you don't mind me asking? J.

Talk to other mothers and compare notes. Anywhere you are: work, church, daycare parking lot, playground, swim lessons, whatever. Ask other moms who their pediatrician is and how do they like him/her. Tell about what happened the last time you went to your doctore and then let them tell you their stories how their docs operate. Ask how hard somebody is to get an appointment with, if you'll be seeing other partners in a group or your actual doc, etc. Ask around and soon enough you'll hear one or two names more often and with more enthusiasm. Trust other moms.

You could ask other moms around your area where they go. I found my daughters ped from a friend of mine and really like her.

I look for a pedatrician that spends time with my child, making sure everything is good, asks me questions about her, answers my questions without acting like I'm an idiot, and one that I think truly loves kids. I also want to have an office with a friendly staff, and one that calls me back promptly if I need them to. I asked around, and the office my daughter goes to was highly recommended.

Hi A.,

I think if you're asking then the one you have is not who is right for YOU. I think if they were then you would feel both comfortable and confident in bringing your children there.
Good luck!
J.

When I was pregnant, I asked my OB who she took her kids too. There are about 6 doctors in the office, but I try to stick with the same one. I had a different "favorite" until DS had some serious croup issues (hospitalized at 18 months). Then, we met another doctor in the practice and he is our FOREVER FAVORITE. If you can find a practice with several doctors, try several out until you can "click" with one. As for the staff, the front office staff stinks. We like the nurses pretty well. I guess it would depend on your issues with staff and if you can stomach it long enough to check in and get to the doc.

We ended up switching peds around the 1 year mark and I had a hard time finding one I liked. We had decided to vaccinate, but on a delayed schedule and we wanted to take it really slow on solids and made breastfeeding priority. That sounds logical but you'd be surprised how many peds are old fashioned and/or stuck in their ways and offered little encouragement or information. So for us it was key to find a ped that let US be the parents and decision makers. I still value my peds advice and know he is waaay more knowledegable than me. But I want a doctor for medical stuff, not personal stuff. I don't want my doctor telling me how and when my baby should be sleeping, nursing, etc. He doesn't live in my house. When I tell him I want to vaccinate but on a delayed schedule, I want him to help me figure out that schedule, and when I walk in with research I've done on certain topics (that delayed schedule, in particular), I want him to talk about it with me, not be offended that I did my own research. I think our society is changing, even if slowly, the patient-doctor relationship. It's now more acceptable to be your own advocate. Remember, doctors need their patients too!
So my advice is to not settle. If you don't feel good about a ped, try another. And many offer visits or consultations to give you a chance to meet them and chat a while to help you decide if you even want to be their customer.

I've had many problems with office staff when going to the doctor. And not just pediatricians, but all docs for my whole family. What I've learned to do is take things in my own hands such as make sure an appointment is set. When I have to leave a message for the doctor or the doctor's nurse to call me back, if they haven't call me within an hour, I just call back until they are tired of me.
As for the doctor, I am impressed that the doctor doesn't run in and out as fast as they can when they see you or your child. They are patient to answer all your questions.

Hello! I had a similar situation recently. I had been taking my 4 children to the same pediatrician that I went to as a child. I knew them and it was always the same. However, it was always the same if you know what I mean. I would call for an emergency apt early in the morning and would not get in until late afternoon. Finally I decided to look around. I went to one and made appointments for them. I was not impressed with the office or especially the office staff. The DR was fine, but the nurses and recepionists are a mom's first line of defense! So I went into another office. The nurse/recptionist was very friendly, helpful and was willing to talk to me as a person, not a patient. The doctor came out and talked to me, showed me the whole room, told me about her experience etc. I felt at home there. I was on a first name basis with both women by the end of the visit. I would look for personal attention, someone who will answer all your questions, no matter how small they may seem. If he has a strange bug bite, it should be important to the DR to look at if it is to you! Trust your instinct. If you do not feel right in this practice, look around. You are not committed for life to your first DR.
Good luck!

Our pediatrician is freakin awesome. We go to Sunrise Pediatrics on Sunset Rd off of Blue Ridge Rd near Rex Hospital. There are two full time doctors there and one that is part time. They share on call witha nother office so there is always someone if you need them and they also use the UNC after hours nurse line if you have questions on weekends or in the middle of the night.

But the doctors, nurses and even receptionist call you by name EVERY time you come in and seem to remember everything about you. It is awesome! you feel like they know you and when you're there, you feel like you're the only patient they have to attend to.

After my son was born, Dr Murnane would call us to check to see how he was doing and even how I was doing! She called ona Saturday morning jus tto check up on us and see if we had any question (This was about a week after he was born)

But I would say to call around and find someone close to you and see if they take your insurance, how do they handle Sick/well visits, what is their policy on after hours calls, policy on sick visits (Can you get in that day??), what hospital(S) do they have priviedges in?, Do you see the same doctor every visit or just whoever is available?, Howmany doctors are in the practice....stuff like that.

But if you are anywhere near Blue Ridge Rd, Sunrise is definatley worth checking into. The receptionist's name is Sharron and she loves pigs :) but she is a wealth of knowledge and happy to answer any questions.

Good luck!

I make consulatations apts and go and talk to them and during that consultation I can get a feel if I like them or not. If I do I make an apt for the baby, if I don't, I keep searching. If I think that I like them, and it turns out that I don't after I go a couple of times, I continue my search. I base it more on personality and chemistry between my child and the dr. If the dr seems easy to talk to and seems good with the child, he/she is pretty hi up on the list. They all are very smart. They hav to have an extremely hi grade point average JUST to get into medical school, so none of them are dummies. There are some dr that will talk down to you as if you are a peon while they are mr terrific because they are smarter than you. I CAN'T GO FOR THOSE TYPE. My first pediatrician was absolutely wonderful. You would never know that she was a dr. She could have ran with the best of us dummies and she never would have given any indication that she was better than anyone else. And she interacted with my daughter just like she would her own. But we moved out of state. I finally found someone here alot like her but I went through many. Here I found that they seemed too busy to care and when I called for an apt their workers didn't seem to care if she was choking to death or not...the rule is the rule and that is it. I don't like that either. This office I am going to now, they care and they treat you individually and they seem to care about your child over the phone as if it were their own. I want to know if she is bad sick and i need to bring her in that day they are going to take her.

I am not sure what others look for but that is what I look for.
PS.. I see that you are from Berea, Ky. We are both from ky and would like to get back there and have been looking in that area. How do you like that little town and how big would you say it is? Is there a hospital there?

If you are in Smyrna area. Dr. Sipe-Bottoms is wonderful. I live in Walter Hill and travel too see her. Her number is ###-###-####

R. L

from my personal experience we got a bad one first. She would make me feel like an idiot when I asked questions, she would roll her eyes, she would try and hurry through the appts and did not take her time with me. She was frustrated if my child did not cooperate, etc She would check him and if he was not sick enough for meds she would say to "come back" in a week if he was not better........thus another appt and visit...You get the point. I tried a few until I found a good one. This new one is very gentle with my children, he looks me in the eye, he allows me to call if I have questions,
instead of coming in for another visit, he sits in the room relaxed and patient asking me if I have any other concerns, etc His nurse is great too which the first doc, her nurse never smiled. Not good for a pediatrician! I live in M'boro, Tn, if you do, I can give you his name!

Good luck, W. M
ps/ make sure they have an on call system for after hours where you can get connected to a nurse at the local hospital even if in the middle of the night. And see what their weekend hours are for a sick child.

Partly you go with your gut. Referrals from friends you trust are the best. How the doc responds to you, your child and questions that you have. If you live in the Raleigh or Clayton area I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Mike Knudsen. He is the BEST!!!! The practice he works in is A Growing Child Pediatrics. Good luck!

Our 7 1/2 month daughter has been seeing Dr. Stephanie Richter at Charlotte Pediatrics. She works in a group practice in multiple locations within Charlotte (also Mint Hill, Matthews, etc). We always bring a list of questions at each visit & she always answers them to our satisfaction (have even given us articles to support her answers). It's very easy to get appointments, even for the same day for sick visits. Also, the nurse's line is very helpful & always available. I'd recommend scheduling a tour of the facility and ask your own questions before making a decision. That way, you'll feel comfortable that your kids will be in the best care! To check if a pediatrician is good, you can call your healthcare provider & ask for a rating on him/her. Or, always good to ask fellow mothers like us!!

Good luck!!

research and talking to other people. i have a good friend who's dad is a pediatrician. i called the office and talked to some of the staff, checked out the websight, talked to other parents that take their kids there, and visited the office personally. we go to pediatric associates on harrodsburg rd and love it. the doctors are all great, baord certified, they have evening and weekend hours, separate waiting areas for sick and well baby visits, and i know lots of people who take their children there and love it too. luckily my child hasn't had to be seen for many "sick" visits but when she has they have gotten her right in and taken good care of her and the docotors always do their best to put her at ease, as well as ease my "mommY fears" and explain to me what they are doing, why they are doing it and what needs to be done to get her better. use your best jusdgement and your mommy intuition, if things don't feel right at your current ped, then find another one. there is nothing wrong with seeking a 2nd ot even 3rd or 4th opinion if you are not convinced by the 1st one.