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How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor

Your child's doctor can be an incredible resource when you have questions and concerns about your child's health, but finding time for your child's regular checkups and sick visits may be a stretch for your already jam-packed schedule. Your child's doctor may be overbooked and overscheduled, too, so making the most of your time together is important. What are the best ways to communicate your concerns and questions to your child's doctor? And how can you strengthen your relationship with the doctor who plays such an important role in your child's health?

The Doctor-Patient Relationship

Gone are the days of routine house calls and bartering livestock for health care and medicine. The current-day reality of insurance co-pays and crowded waiting rooms means relationships between doctors and patients have changed drastically. Today, doctors are pressured to see more patients in less time and to spend less time with each patient. Insurance issues, such as the need for referrals, complicate patient care for parents as well as doctors and their offices.

The increasing complexities of the health care system mean that parents have to take charge of their child's care. In the past, parents may have known far less about their child's health, growth, and development. In today's world, the health information that's readily available on the Internet, in bookstores, and on TV suggests that parents have the ability to be more informed than ever before. This is good news, because parents who actively participate in their child's health care help to ensure that their child receives the best care possible. In some cases, though, parents who do their own research may find incomplete or inaccurate medical and health information. Parents armed with stacks of printouts from unreliable Internet sources could find themselves at odds with a tense and frustrated doctor who doesn't have time to agree or disagree with each piece of information.

Another common problem that may hinder a good relationship with your child's doctor is unrealistic expectations or an unwillingness to trust a doctor's diagnosis or treatment of a minor illness. For example, many parents expect a drug or medicine for

Your child's nurse practitioner can also help you with other children's health issues, including nutrition, and death, separation, and temperature of 102? Fahrenheit (39? Celsius), or is having diarrhea. This helps the doctor assess your child's condition more readily and accurately than if you just say that "my child is sick."

Consider jotting down your questions and concerns before the appointment so that you'll remember everything you want to bring up. And if you're worried about symptoms your child is having, mention them to the doctor even if he or she doesn't ask. Tell the doctor what you've tried to make the symptoms better and what worked and what didn't. The more information you provide, the better the doctor will be able to assess your child's health.

Tips for Building a Better Relationship

Make the most of your relationship with your child's doctor (and the doctor's office) by following these tips:

• Be informed, but don't overwhelm. The Internet is a tremendous tool that can help you learn more about your child's health and development, but it's unrealistic to expect your child's doctor to evaluate every health resource or breakthrough you find on the Web or see on TV. If you have a particular article that you'd like the doctor to review or comment on, mail, email, fax, or drop off the article well in advance of the office visit, giving the doctor plenty of time to review and do any necessary research. Keep these requests to a minimum, though. If you're looking for information on a particular children's health topic, talk to the office staff or a nurse about whether they provide informational brochures. Ask the doctor to recommend some reliable resources where you can get health information.
• Be focused during the visit. Avoid distractions so you can focus your full attention on answering the doctor's questions. Turn off your cell phone and leave other children with a spouse, babysitter, or relative, if possible. Also try to stick to the reason for the visit — for example, don't use a sick visit to discuss behavior problems that may require an in-depth evaluation. Instead, schedule a separate visit and let the office staff know the nature of your child's problem so that a longer appointment time can be allotted.
• Follow the rules. Respect the doctor's time by arriving for appointments on time or a few minutes early. If you're unavoidably late, let the office know, and give at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Many office schedules are packed weeks in advance, so schedule well-child or non-sick visits early. You should also familiarize yourself with the office's payment requirements and your insurance company's co-pays and referral policy to make appointments go more smoothly.
• Follow up. Before you leave the doctor's office, make sure you understand what follow-up appointments, Larissa Hirsch, MD
  Date reviewed: July 2006
  Originally reviewed by:
  Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
  
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