To prepare for a well-child visit:
- Bring a pad of paper and pencil to the visit to jot down instructions or
information.
- Ask about giving your child Tylenol before he receives immunization shots
to lessen the reaction.
- Dress your child in clothing that's easy to get on and off.
- Bring small toys, crayons, and paper to keep your child occupied during
what could be a long wait.
- Bring crayons into the examining room: your child can color the paper on
the examining table or his paper robe. Have your child draw a picture to
surprise the doctor.
- If your child is very fearful, bring a doll to the doctor's office and
ask the doctor to do some of the procedures first on the doll and then on your
child. Suggest something your child can look forward to afterward, like a
snack or an outing.
- Do not try to squeeze a question about a second child into one child's
visit. You run the risk of their both receiving rushed and inadequate care.
- For babies, wait until the doctor arrives to fully undress your baby,
instead of waiting with a shivering and fussing infant. Bring a waterproof pad
for yourself, as you may find yourself holding your naked baby for most of the
visit.
Remind the receptionist when you are visiting the doctor with a sick
child. If your child has something highly infectious, like chicken pox, ask if
they prefer you use another entrance.
When scheduling a sick-child visit, ask to meet with your pediatrician,
as opposed to another doctor in the practice, for continuity and relationship
building.
Ask your pediatrician if she can call a prescription into your pharmacy
(bring the number with you) instead of writing it out, so you do not have to
wait in the store while your prescription is filled.
Calling After Hours
- Trust your instincts. Do not feel afraid to call the doctor's office if
your child's illness worries you.
- Pull out your medical records so you have your child's medical history,
as well as a record of drugs he has taken in the past, adverse reactions, and
what your child seemed to respond to best. When you do have to call your doctor
late at night or after hours, you'll get faster, more accurate care if you have
basic medical information about your child on hand.
- Remind the physician on call of recent sickness, injuries, or shots.
- Know if your child has a fever and what his temperature reads.
- Have ready the number of an all-night pharmacy where your doctor can call
in prescriptions.
- Do not get off the phone until you and your doctor have arrived at a plan
that makes sense to you. This may mean taking your child in for treatment,
calling in a prescription, scheduling an appointment, or monitoring him at home
for the next day or two.
Keeping Medical Records
Keep a record of your child's health handy in case you have a medical
emergency or you see a specialist who is unfamiliar with your child. Include in
it:
- Names and addresses of all doctors and specialists your child sees
- Immunization records, along with your child's current height and weight
- Major illnesses and injuries, treatment, complications, and healing time
- Allergies to food or medication
- Medication your child is taking or has taken recently, duration,
strength, and his reaction to it
- Family medical history, including allergies and illnesses, cancers,
diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, or osteoporosis. Include the
causes of death for your parents or grandparents
- Your pregnancy history, including medication you took, illness you had
while pregnant, or difficulties at birth
When to Change Pediatricians
- When to find a new doctor:
- If you feel your pediatrician has become patronizing, acts impatient,
resists your questions, or belittles you or your child.
- After multiple visits she fails to establish a rapport with your child.
- She fails to fully inform you about possible side effects of medications
prescribed.
- You experience tremendous delays in getting after-hours calls returned or
in scheduling a sick-child visit.
- You spend inordinate amounts of time waiting to be seen every time you
bring your child to the office for a scheduled appointment.
- Your sick child isn't getting better, yet your pediatrician does not
change her plan of action.
- You do not feel comfortable about your relationship, and you do not agree
with or trust her advice.
Copyright © 2002 by Mom Central, Inc.
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