How to Choose the Right Pediatrician
Having a newborn is simply the best thing in the world! But it can be extremely stressful, especially nowadays with all this pressure to do everything the “right way”! I look at myself as being part of your team, and I hope to be an important part of that team for up to 21 years!
Who you select as a pediatrician is a very important decision. The birthing process itself will be much less stressful if you know that your baby has someone waiting to help oversee his/her health and well-being starting at birth. I encourage expecting parents to come in and meet me for a free prenatal consultation. It means a lot for parents to get the right energy or “vibe” from the doctor, and see our modern efficient NYU office. During this session, we will go over everything, from what to expect in the first few days of life, to what to do in case of an emergency. You want to know that you won’t have to wait too long, especially with your newborn, and that your phone calls will be returned quickly, whether it’s 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. And you won’t want to feel rushed, especially during those first few visits when there is so much to talk about!
Bedside Manner
With a cardiothoracic surgeon, bedside manner may not be as important. But your pediatrician needs to be someone who is empathetic, nurturing, patient and kind. He/She needs to understand that there is no such thing as a bad question, and be available for you by phone or in person whenever you are concerned. Indeed we have a 24-hour/365 day a year on call system staffed by our pediatricians, as well as the option of My Chart message emails. We will always get back to you the same day, as we understand that each and every concern is a valid and sometimes time sensitive one when it comes to a child.
Moreover, you want to make sure your pediatrician is well-versed in all of the common topics that come up in early childhood. From the very beginning I’ll support you in all aspects, especially in nursing – achieving that correct latch, checking for tongue-tie, and avoiding thrush. You’ll want to know that your pediatrician has read all the books out there, as well as seen thousands of newborns. You’ll want a pediatrician who will help you keep everything in perspective, while providing guidance and direction as needed for nutrition, vaccinations and, of course, sleep. I spent hours upon hours writing this website, updating my advice, and sharing my experience and knowledge. I want you to know all that I know!
But I must also be open and admit that it is my opinion that doctors should not tell parents how to parent or what they must do when it comes to a parenting decision. I respect the individuality of both children and families too much to be a paternalistic physician. I find the vast majority of my parents appreciate that. But there are times that a parents feels like they may want to discuss in more detail the proper nap schedule for a 3 month old, or what time the second meal should be in a 7 month old, or perhaps whether it’s best for a toddler to attend daycare versus having a nanny, and I never want to disappoint or let down a family that I am working with. I do offer a lot of guidance, and I write hours worth of advice on sleep and other hot topics, but I will end up shifting those decisions back to my parents, and hopefully that will feel empowering for you and not that I am letting you down. When there is a right way, i’ll let you know, but if there are many right ways, I always encourage a family to explore what feels right to them and their child.
What Makes A Good Doctor
While most children are generally healthy and get over their fevers and bruises on their own, it’s important to have someone who is there for you, just in case. As a parent, you’ll face both minor and major obstacles. In the first week of your baby’s life, you might see a little weight loss or even jaundice. You’ll want your pediatrician to guide you, educate you and when possible reassure you. At some point, you will encounter the first fever, and that indeed could signify a major infection. Your child is all of a sudden burning up, looking lethargic and not acting like herself. Each fever is a unique challenge, and while most can be attributed to stubborn but surmountable viruses, your pediatrician is the person who will be able to tell you if it’s actually something more serious, such as a common infection like strep or a true ear infection, or worse, a significant bacterial infection like urinary tract infection, appendicitis or pneumonia.
So while we all aim to be “non-interventionists,” you need to know that when intervention is necessary, you are in good hands. Of course you won’t want unnecessary blood tests, x-rays or antibiotics, but there are times when doctors need to rule out diseases that could be serious. So whether it’s a rash, a mild heart murmur or even something that has already come up on the prenatal sonogram, you need to make sure you are working with a seasoned and balanced physician.
It is therefore crucial that you find out if your doctor is a well-trained, experienced and hard-working professional. It is actually very important where a doctor received his training, as a residency in a top academic institution allows for exposure to a true diversity in patients and diseases, as well as guidance from top experts in the sub-specialty fields, including development, cardiology and dermatology, among others. It would seem silly to post scores from the American Academy of Pediatrics Board Exams, or to boast about the amount of CME - continuing medical education - that I am committed to each year. But I do think parents who I work with appreciate that I am well-versed in both the bread and butter childhood issues, as well as the rare conditions that we pray your child never sees. Click here to learn more about my education and experience.
Experience really does matter. We all have to start somewhere, but when it comes to giving advice on pediatric topics or treating a sick child, you want someone with plenty of experience under his belt. Each year I see about 5,000 patients, and after 23 years, that’s over 115,000 child-parent-doctor interactions. Doctors are always learning because each child is different, but it’s experience that allows a doctor to take a balanced approach while making a diagnosis quickly and efficiently.
The Office and Staff
As a new parent, you’ll want to work with a friendly and efficient office staff. When you call, you’ll want to get an answer back the same day and know that there are open slots for same-day sick visits. Adults can sometimes wait – children often can’t! Extended weekday and weekend hours can be a huge plus. You want there to be a good plan for after-hours care and know where to go just in case there is an emergency in the middle of the night.
All well visits are booked with your main pediatrician, so you will get to know your pediatrician very well over the next few years – ideally until your kids are done with college! Your goal is to find a pediatrician who is available most days of the week, and you’ll want to make sure that the other pediatricians in the group are also amazing doctors, just in case you ever need to meet with them instead. I feel so honored to be part of a group of well-trained empathic excellent doctors - and I know you will love my colleagues when you meet them.
The nurses and support staff must be courteous, friendly and, above all, efficient. You’ll have forms for school, quick questions on medicine doses, and requests for same-day appointments, and the office staff should provide excellent customer service – something that wasn’t always emphasized in the old days of healthcare.
I am so proud and appreciative of the support and academic backbone that NYU Langone provides here. I have been amazed and impressed with their academic growth, top rated clinical care, customer service, and top rankings in all pediatric areas, but perhaps more importantly from the actual level of expertise and care that our families receive when they need a specialist or hospital care.
In no way are you committing or signing up to be an exclusive NYU patient. You are free to go anywhere, near or far, to meet with any doctor you choose. But our ability to coordinate care with true experts in all the pediatric sub-specialties really strengthens the practice. Indeed, we have some specialists come to Brooklyn once a week so you don’t have to travel to the city!
I marvel at the efficiency of our practice, as many of our patients are seen on time for their appointments. But no doctor can say they never get backed up or fall behind when a child has an asthma attack, or a newborn is losing weight and is jaundiced. When you are in the room with a doctor, that doctor needs to be concentrating only on you and your family. And that is what you get here. We never double book a time slot (so please do come on time, as we can’t use another person’s slot if you are late) and we stagger same day sick visits with physical exams and preventative well-visits, and since we have multiple pediatricians all here, we really can accommodate our patient’s needs.
Nonetheless, I must be open that we are not necessarily a private practice nor a “concierge” service. We can’t stop seeing patients and leave the exam room because you call or need a form for daycare that moment. But we hired a dedicated pediatric medical secretary years ago just to help us complete all forms as soon as possible! Each of the pediatricians, and all of the many doctors who work here at NYU Langone Cobble Hill are truly dedicated intelligent and caring doctors. My entire family comes here, and I know from being behind the scenes that you will get excellent care. When analyzing, or even when reviewing doctors - yes, you will get online surveys here like everywhere - please try to concentrate on that aspect - the care that you received from the doctor once you got in the room, as I think that is the most important aspect of seeing a doctor. I have been doing this for 26 years, and have practiced in many different clinical settings, and I think this practice provides excellent medical care. I hope you will agree!
Hot Pediatric Topics
There are so many “hot” pediatric topics, from allergies to starting solids to asthma and beyond. I think it’s important that your pediatrician has “been there and back,” with many years under his belt. It’s important for you to feel that your pediatrician respects your values and judgment, and views you as a member of the team.
Concerning antibiotics, I prefer the body to heal itself naturally. So when there is a viral illness, even with a high fever, I prefer providing symptomatic relief to your child and avoiding antibiotics. But there are some very strong and powerful germs out there, and babies can suffer or even die from bacterial meningitis, pneumonia or urinary tract infections. So if the situation requires it, I will strongly recommend giving your child antibiotics.
Along those lines, we need to realize that vaccines are a major method of disease prevention and have been enormously successful in reducing and even eliminating diseases. I understand completely the concerns that parents have regarding possible side effects or links to other conditions such as autism. But when you look at the double-blinded studies involving kids who did and didn’t receive vaccinations, there just isn’t any link to autism, and vaccines are definitely the lesser of two evils. With the recent outbreaks of Pertussis and Measles, we have all revised our policies, largely at our patients request, and we can’t see patients who will not get vaccinated here, as it poses a risk to others as well as your child. Read more about vaccinations here.
Reading Recommendations
I encourage parents to become informed consumers and active participants in their child’s healthcare, but it’s also important to seek out reliable sources of information. Nowadays the Internet gives patients free and fast “hits”, but there is a lot of misinformation out there. I prefer the old-fashioned advice when it comes to behavioral approaches, such as the books of the original Dr. Spock or the older Dr. Sears (and not his sons!) I love Terry Brazelton’s approach to development and his model of Touchpoints. It is ok to incorporate methods or themes from popular books, such as “elimination-communication,” “baby-led weaning” and “no-cry sleep solutions.” But don’t just refer to page 96 when parenting – explore your heart and follow your own instincts. Of course you should follow your child’s development closely, but you should also try to enjoy the ride. Become an expert in anything that does come your way, but don’t worry about the things that you may never encounter! Do be careful of sick people around your newborn, but don’t stay inside for months either! Don’t over-stress or overthink this parenting thing – I promise you’re going to be great!
And if you do hit an obstacle, we’ll get through it together! I look forward to meeting your baby!