Make the most of pediatric appointments

When Kim took her toddler and infant to the doctor for an office call, her baby cried and her toddler kept asking for cookies. By the time the doctor entered the room, Kim was frazzled. Because of her children's distractions, she forgot to ask a couple of important questions.

Many parents get distracted during office visits and forget to mention important details to the doctor. Perhaps this has happened to you. Here are some ideas to help your office visits go more smoothly:

For your first visit, bring a copy of your child's medical records from your previous physician. Your new doctor is interested in your child's medical history, previous surgeries, diagnoses, and treatments. Remember to bring immunization records, but keep a copy for your home records. Insurance cards and your driver's license or identification are required for your first appointment.

Prior to the appointment, make a list of your child's symptoms and bring it with you. Symptoms are like pieces of a puzzle. When you tell your doctor all the details-even seemingly unimportant ones-it enables him or her to have a clearer picture of your situation.

If your child takes any medications or vitamins, bring them with you. Your doctor will be able to see what your child takes, the dosage, and how often. If your doctor chooses to change your child's medications, ask about possible side effects.

Every body responds a little differently to medications. If your child is taking a new prescription and having any kind of problem with it, call your doctor to see if you should be concerned.

During your office visit, if your child has several medical problems, select the most important ones that need addressing that day. You may want to try to solve everything in one visit, but if there are several issues, schedule extra time.

When you're making your child's appointment, let the receptionist know what you'd like to discuss with your doctor. She will be able to tell you whether you need to schedule more than one visit.

Most pediatricians and family doctors are limited to about ten or fifteen minutes per appointment. Health organizations overseeing doctors' practices limit how much time physicians may spend with their patients. Your doctor wants to care for your child properly. Yet, it's important to respect his time restraints. Doctors appreciate patients who focus on health issues and don't draw them into conversations about unrelated topics.

Did you know that some patients schedule appointments and fail to show up? Do your best to keep your appointment. The receptionist realizes that, sometimes, unavoidable things happen, causing you to miss your appointment. But do remember to cancel.

Doctors not only appreciate patients remembering appointments, but also when they arrive a few minutes early. When a patient is late, it sets the doctor's schedule back.

When your doctor sees your child as his patient, he wants you to understand his treatment plan. He is interested in your family's well being. If you don't understand something, ask. No question should ever be overlooked if it is important to you. During your visit, write down important details that could easily be confused or forgotten.

Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about personal issues or uncomfortable topics pertaining to your child. Your doctor treats all types of problems regularly and can help you. But unless you introduce the topic, he may not know your concerns.

Your doctor may want to order medical tests or send your child to a specialist for problems that need greater attention. Certain screenings and lab work help your doctor be more thorough in his care in certain instances. Provide the nurse with the dates you are available for appointments or tests to save time and enable her to schedule tests quickly.

A quality physician only orders tests when he feels they are necessary and important. In the past, we all heard of doctors who ordered too many unnecessary tests. Today, things are different. Insurance companies oversee testing payments and won't allow unnecessary tests to be done.

Remember, your doctor is there to serve your family. He can give wise counsel about your child's health. As you follow his guidance, he will appreciate your putting his suggestions into practice. You and your doctor can work together to provide better health care for your family.