Finding the right pediatrician: this is one of the most important choices a parent can make

WHEN first-time mom Donna Parker realized she needed to find a pediatrician, four words immediately came to her mind: "I have no clue."

Parker was about five months pregnant and didn't know where to begin to find a good pediatrician. The 35-year-old Chicago resident and her husband ended up asking a family member for help. It's not unusual for many soon-to-be, first-time parents to find themselves in a similar situation. Finding a good doctor for yourself is confounding enough, but finding one for your child may be even more difficult, especially if you are a new parent. Unfortunately, many overlook the urgency of locating a physician to take care of a child's medical needs until he or she is born.

There are Web sites, directories and tons of advertisements offering to help you find a doctor. But with so many doctors to choose from, it's difficult to determine which one will be best for you and your child.

While the thought of looking for a pediatrician may seem daunting, it doesn't have to be. Most medical experts suggest that the earlier you start looking for a pediatrician, the better. The search should begin at some point during the first three months of pregnancy, suggests Winston Price, M.D., president of the National Medical Association. "Things can be very stressful for the parent during the second and third trimesters," he says.

It is critical for African-American parents to find a pediatrician early in the pregnancy because of the high number of premature deliveries in the Black community. In 2002, 17 percent of African-American babies were born premature, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. "It's good to have that pediatrician on board [early] so if there is a premature delivery, there is someone with whom the parent already has developed a trusting relationship," "advises Dr. Price.

Before you begin your search for the right doctor, you should make sure your infant has health insurance once he or she is born. "I've seen people stuck with having their child uninsured for the first six months or nine months because they missed the window where they had to enroll the child," says Dr. Icy Cade-Bell, general pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Talk with your health insurance company to find out what steps you need to take to insure your infant--before he or she is born.

You also should ask your insurance company for a list of pediatricians who are registered with your health-care plan, advises Dr. Cade-Bell. Pediatric care can be very costly. Regular office visits can range from $50 to $75 per visit, and emergency room care is even more costly.

Once you've gotten the list of doctors from your insurance company, you should use one of the most recommended ways of finding a good pediatrician--word of mouth. Ask other parents, friends, family and people you know and trust. Once you have compiled a list of referred doctors, you should check to see if a recommended pediatrician is on your insurance company's list.

Narrow your list to a handful of prospective pediatricians. Dr. Renee Jenkins, chair of the department of pediatrics and child health at Howard University, says that in her 20 years of practice, she's had only one parent to interview her before making a final selection. "We'd like to encourage more parents to do that [interview] and come in with their questions before they even have the baby," she says.

Medical experts say physicians don't mind being interviewed and may not charge you for the visit. You also have the option of doing a telephone interview or a face-to-face interview. You should opt for the latter because it provides an opportunity to get a feel for the physician's personality and style, and you can observe the office environment. It also enables the parent to chat with the staff and other parents who already use that particular physician. In addition, go prepared with a list of questions that you want the doctor to answer.

In making the final decision, you should consider your needs as well as your child's needs. Keep in mind that your decision may be a gut reaction. You may immediately know when you meet a doctor if he or she is right for you and your child. Also keep in mind that if you choose a physician and later determine that he or she is not the right fit, you can always find another doctor.

A pediatrician will play a very critical and valuable role in your child's health-care needs, from the time the child is born until he or she is much older. Since the physician will be seeing your child through some very crucial developmental stages of life, you want to make sure you get a pediatrician with whom you will be comfortable for some time. "I always tell [parents] that they need to be as comfortable with me as a person as they are with me as a physician," says Dr. Sandra Robinson, a pediatrician in New Orleans. "Because when risks [emergency situations] come, you have to be comfortable with the person."