How to find a good dr???

[mominabigtruck]

So alot of you know we just moved to a new city. I am having a delima now because ds2 has been sick ever since we moved with a runny nose, cough and low grade fever and of course we don't have a dr. I am very particular about drs, I absolutely must have someone who speaks english and I don't mean as a second language and I hate the huge dr offices where you end up waiting all day to spend 5 minutes with the dr. The only person I know down here is my babysitter and she takes her baby to one of those clinics with the rotating drs, where you never see the same person. Also, we don't have insurance so I need someone who won't charge me an arm and a leg and who will let me make payments if needed. We are right smack in between two major cities so going through the phone book could take forever. What would you guys do in this situation?

[MySillyKids]

Can you Join a MOMS club? They always have the best recommendations.

Our Dr is FANTASTIC, but we only found him because our IL's are DR's and they would only trust the care of their son to him, I agree 100%.

http://www.momsclub.org/

Even if they dont have one for YOUR specific area, you can email the next one closest to you and they can point you in the right direction. there's a MOMS club for every area. Some just choose not to have a web site (for whatever reason).

Good luck!

[TheRealMacGyver]

We interviewed doctors that people recommended, then we decided on a doctor (very good oriental doctor). In your case, it sounds like you really don't have time for that, so maybe just look through the phone book for some good traditional "American" names, ya know like Dr. Smith or something. Good luck.

[mominabigtruck]

I'm not against foreign drs, I just want to be able to understand them, especially when we're talking about my kids health. When I'm at the dr with two kids hanging all over me whining, I don't have time to try to interpret what the drs saying.

[TheRealMacGyver]

I know that's what you meant, I agree too. Nothing worse than asking a doctor to repeat themselves 3 times and still not knowing what they said! I just said to look for American names because your odds of getting someone you can understand is better.

[mommy2jana]

I did exactly what MacGyver said. Well, I looked on my insurance....found some "American" names....then googled them to see if maybe their practice had a website with pictures on it...just to make sure! ;) By googling them, you can also sometimes find out where they went to school and such, too.

I'm still trying to find the "right" pediatrician for us....we moved here just over 2 years ago. Good luck!!!! :)

[sixboys]

Hi mominabigtruck,

I live in Beavercreek, just outside of Dayton - where are you?

Amy

[Loves2sing]

One thing my aunt did was interview Drs. She went to a lot of different Drs that were accepting new patients in her area, then she made a list of important questions and asked them. She kept interviewing until she found a Dr that she really liked. That is what I plan on doing when I move, that is if I can't get into my SIL's Dr, he sounds amazing. But in your case, I think I would take him into a walk in clinic, and then start the interview process once his current sickness in dealt with. Who knows? Maybe you'll luck out and the Dr at the clinic would be perfect. My current Dr works out of a walk in clinic, and she is fantastic. She is an appointment only Dr though.

[lovinwaves]

I would try a local group like Mysillyboys recommended. Another site is www.mamasource.com

You could also try putting a posting on Craigslist in the baby section. I have seen some people do this before. At the very least it would get flagged down. There should also be a designated area on CL for a question like this, but I'm afraid not as many people frequent that part of the CL.

Hmm...that's all I can think of right now :)

[UlrikeDG]

I use a family practice DO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DO). I find that I get a lot less unsolicited bad advice about things like car seats, sleeping and breastfeeding that way. Plus, we have one doctor for the entire family which creates a better relationship, IMO. The kids see her whenever any one of us goes in, and because she and her staff see very few kids, they tend to really enjoy it when mine come in, which I also think creates a better relationship; my kids feel special at the doctor's office!

The "down side" is she tends to be rather quick to refer us to a specialist, because she doesn't want to screw up with such young patients. Now, I'd much rather have a doctor who is willing to say, "I don't know," than one who "knows it all," so that's not such a bad thing, IMO. However, when Nadia broke her collar bone, she sent us to a pediatric orthopedic doctor, which really was a waste of time. A phone consult would have gotten us just as much information with much less hassle. (The treatment for a broken collar bone is leave it alone and let it heal.) Overall, I've been much happier with this doctor than with any true pediatrician.

[lovinwaves]

I use a family practice DO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DO). I find that I get a lot less unsolicited bad advice about things like car seats, sleeping and breastfeeding that way. Plus, we have one doctor for the entire family which creates a better relationship, IMO. The kids see her whenever any one of us goes in, and because she and her staff see very few kids, they tend to really enjoy it when mine come in, which I also think creates a better relationship; my kids feel special at the doctor's office!



This is TOTALLY us also. The nurses and staff are always estatic to see DD and DS because, as you say, rarely see children.

All four of us see the same Doctor. Since she is a passionate mom of four, I also feel I get to hear her personal experiences as well.

DD and DS LOVE going to "see Doctor Kim". The nurses are wonderful and hug and love on my kids.

[mominabigtruck]

Hi mominabigtruck,

I live in Beavercreek, just outside of Dayton - where are you?

Amy

I"m in Middletown, right smack in the between Dayton and Cincinnati. I would love to have a dr close here in Middletown but I'm willing to drive either way if I can find someone decent.