Relating to my previous post about my ‘struggle’ to find the perfect pediatrician for us, I had made a short list of things that might be helpful when you are in need of a new pediatrician for your child especially if you are new in Jakarta or you are considering to switch doctors.

Please do keep in mind that you are really looking for someone who is going to care about your child, listen to and respond to your needs, and be available when you need him/her.

1. Recommendation:

Friends or family members can easily provide you with recommendations for pediatrician based on their own experiences. Ask what they like about the doctor and judge for yourself if you would like that or not. Keep in mind sometimes what works for other families won’t work for yours. Always try to get the reason or explanation behind a recommendation to make sure you understand why someone likes or dislikes their pediatrician. Also, forums like Living in Indonesia will be helpful for new comers.

2. Google away:

Sometimes this will help especially if you already narrow down some names of the doctors you are interested in.

3. Set up an Initial Interview:

Okay, this may sounds daunting right? But believe me it will do good if you can meet your ‘future’ doctor first and ask a couple of questions. Your pediatrician should also be knowledgeable in proactive qualities such as disease prevention, and child development. Keep in mind that while most parents like to think that they are looking for a good pediatrician, you are mostly looking for a pediatrician who is good for you and your family. And that often comes down to how well your personalities fit together. Here’s your opportunity to get the ‘feel’ of the pediatrician. Does the pediatrician make you feel uncomfortable or stupid when you ask for additional details? That’s not a good sign!

4. Assessment of the Clinic/Hospital:

Ask these questions to put your mind at ease:

• What are the typical costs for office visits? If you do have health insurance, do you pay during each visit? What are the processes for handling billing, insurance claims and co-payments?
• What are the office hours? If you work full time, ask if they see patients on Saturdays or evenings.
• Is the doctor available over the phone during office hours? If not, is there a nurse who can answer your questions?
• Just in case — Who should you call in the middle of the night, on weekends or on holidays in an emergency?
• Do they have after office hour phone number?
• How quickly are calls typically returned during evening hours or on a weekend or holiday?
• Does the office have separate waiting rooms for healthy and sick children? The office’s waiting room is important since you take your kids to the doctor to stay healthy not to catch more germs.
• While you check the clinic/hospital see how well the staffs are. Are they friendly and accommodating

5. Trust Your Guts:

Nothing beats your parental guts when it comes your child’s health care. If you find that the pediatrician is not making you or your child comfortable at all then it’s a sign that you need a new one. And while you may have to initially trust your instincts that you found the right pediatrician, it may take several visits or even several years to know for sure.

Good luck!