P&K How To: How To Change Pediatricians
By Leah Kackley
Parents rely big-time on their pediatricians. That relationship is crucial for the child’s wellbeing, of course, but it also makes a huge impact on parents’ confidence level and peace-of-mind. So, when circumstances require a change to that important relationship, it’s good to go about it in the right way. Here’s some advice from Chelsea Branscome, RN who now works with Dr. Jamey Burrow at Mississippi Sports Medicine, but who previously worked at Baptist Hospital. More importantly, she’s a mom who loves her pediatrician. First, if you’re leaving on good terms (you’ve moved, for example), talk to your doctor and get his/her recommendation for a replacement. You want a similar kind of relationship with your new pediatrician, so find out who your doc thinks will be good. Then you can ask friends and family for their favorites. However, if you’re leaving because of incompatibility, you might want to start with family and friends for advice. The next step would be to schedule an appointment and go in for a visit to meet the new doctor and nurse. As important as it is for the child to like the new pediatrician, it’s arguably much more important that the parents be able to have easy communication with that medical team.
Whether you see your pediatrician often or not much more than once a year, having the best working relationship possible is important. So when changes have to happen, consider following this good advice from a Nurse Who Knows.
