Interviewing New Pediatrician

[SpottedFoxx]

We have decided to switch pediatricians after having a knock down, drag out battle with our son's current pediatrician who refused to acknowledge his food dye issues and created a huge problem for us getting medication authorized through our insurance company (it's a "step" drug but we needed this particular drug because all others in it's class have food dye).  

The pediatrician we are leaving we've had since we brought our son home from Guatemala at age 5 months.  She was the adoption doc who reviewed his records so we never really interviewed her.  He's now 6 years old and we've found a doc near us that is an MD and practices integrative medicine.  However, I really want to make sure this is a good match but I'm really not sure how to do that.  Do I make an appointment to see him?  What questions do I ask?  Thank you all for your insight!

Julie

[karne]

We haven't had to switch, but before our oldest was born, we did interview.  The pediatric practice we chose welcomed it-just a sit down meeting, scheduled as an office visit, and a chance to ask questions and see if there was a decent connection.  It was a very positive experience.  Now that my oldest is a teen and moving to adolescent medicine, the choice of physicians was up to her and she chose based on a few office visits she had.  Again, the practice welcomed this process.

The open way our practice went about encouraging our questioning/discussion, and the respect we were given, has been the way we have seen interactions done with our kids as well.

Good luck.

[SpottedFoxx]

thanks!

[FarmerBeth]

We did pretty much like karne, and we did have a preliminary appointment to interview and discuss.  It was billed to MSI as a consult.  Good for you sticking to your guns with the food dye issue.  It can escalate to physical allergic reactions.  I usually try to stay off the food dye soap box, but my youngest developed a life threatening allergy to a particular food dye (FD&C Yellow #5) and I wish I had really gone with my gut and completely kept him from even small amounts when I first noticed trouble.

[SpottedFoxx]

Wow Beth!  That's scary!  Yellow is definitely a problem for him.  He had a tiny bit of cheese with yellow dye and OMG he was a mess, poor kiddo.   

[FarmerBeth]

I wouldn't mess around with it then!  I think you're doing the right thing to protect your son.

[SpottedFoxx]

Thanks Beth.  I know in my heart it's right but it's nice to get validation now and then :)