If you have a child, chances are you have gone through the process of finding a good primary care doctor. While you may have spent some time carefully researching his or her credentials, you may also be a member of the majority. This group spends more time researching then shopping for new appliances, electronics or vehicles than they do a pediatrician. They hardly spend time to ask themselves the question: “What indicates he or she is a good doctor for your child?”
Beyond Credentials
You do need to look at the credentials of anyone you want to make your primary care doctor. Yet, at Children’s Physicians Medical Group (CPMG) in the El Cajon area, they understand that what you want and expect from a doctor goes beyond medical qualifications and graduate degrees. It is about attitude and philosophy.
Characteristics of a Good Primary Care Doctor
If a person works with children and adolescents, he or she has to have the right attitude. It must be empathetic to the needs and wants of his or her patients. This is bedside manner. To be successful, the doctor must possess this and other characteristics. Essentially a good primary care doctor has:
- The Right Attitude: He or she must be caring and sincere. You need to be able to trust their judgment. You and your child, no matter what age they are, must feel comfortable with the doctor.
- Approach: Being a caring primary care doctor is reflected in the approach. Such a physician will know how to handle children. He or she will possess several techniques that work to soothe your child when they are testy or in pain.
- Listener: It is not enough for a doctor to hear what you say. He or she needs to listen. They have to be able to hear what you are really saying. They must be able to ask questions and help you express what is wrong. The same applies to the child. Does the child respond to your child’s questions or statement or ignore them? A good primary care doctor needs to accept and not dismiss out of hand your concerns and those of your child.
- Awareness: A doctor has to be aware of the latest in technology, the most modern methods of treatment. Not only does he need to know how to implement these methods but also when to do so.
- Communication: Listening is a wonderful skill. It is not effective if the doctor cannot communicate you the situation. He or she must be able to explain to you, without you feeling “stupid,” uninformed or interfering. A primary care doctor needs to be able to explain simply and thoroughly what you need to know about the condition of your child. He or she should be able to accomplish this in a non-superior or patriarchal way.
- Availability: Your doctor has to walk a fine line between being available to address your concerns and not spending too much time to the neglect of other patients. He or she must be easy to get hold of. If he or she is away on emergency or it is after hours, you must know where to leave a message and what other facility will treat your child.
- Respect: It is important that your primary care physician respect you, your beliefs and time. The situation should be reciprocal.
Primary Care Doctor
Living with a child in El Cajon, means you need to do the responsible thing – locate a pediatrician. Be sure you make time to do so long before you actually require one. Groups such as CPMG can help. However, before you decide, make certain you look at his character. While credentials and training are important, you need to consider compatibility. This person will play a role in the care of your child. As such, you need to discover whether he or she possesses those characteristics that will make him or her the right primary care doctor for your child. Click here for more information.
