The pediatric team you can trust

The pediatric offices within Rochester Regional Health are comprised of caring teams of board-certified pediatricians, advanced-degree providers, and nurses, all with the knowledge and training necessary to offer exemplary care to you and your family. 

Our providers take their experience one step further–they love to offer compassionate, thorough pediatric care to your infants, children, and teens, and cannot wait to watch your children grow.

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What to Look for in a Pediatrician 

Pediatric care, just like so many other facets of medicine, is not one size fits all. We want you and your family to feel comfortable with us, especially as we will be seeing a lot of each other during the first few years of your child’s life.

Questions to Ask Other Parents

Friends, co-workers, and family members offer great insight into their own pediatrician choices. Some ideas for questions to ask friends include:

• Does your pediatrician address all your questions and concerns?
• Do your children like their pediatrician?
• Do you feel rushed at your appointments?
• Do you feel included in the decision-making process?
• Does your pediatrician explain side effects and treatment plans?
• How are emergencies handled, especially in non-working hours?

These questions can give you a solid basis for finding a pediatrician. You may still want to ask potential pediatricians questions when you meet them, though, to ensure that your plans for your children align with how they practice.

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician

One of your first considerations may be the convenience of your provider’s office. As a large health system, we have pediatric offices across Rochester and the Finger Lakes regions. This can be an excellent way to narrow down providers before you schedule a consultation.

After scheduling a prenatal consultation, you may want to have a list of questions for your pediatrician. Those questions may include: 

• Are there on-call doctors 24/7, or a nurse triage line?
• Can sick kids be seen same-day?
• Does your office have separate waiting areas for healthy and sick children?
• What is your availability, and if you aren’t in the office, who will my child see?
• What insurances does your office accept?
• What are their philosophies about things like breastfeeding, circumcision, or any other things that are important to you and your family?
• What hospital(s) can/do you admit patients?

Before you schedule a prenatal appointment with a provider, ask about office policies like vaccines, lateness, and cancellations to see if they align with your lifestyle.

When to Change Pediatricians

Sometimes, you and your child’s pediatrician just don’t click–that’s perfectly normal. It’s suggested that you see the pediatrician a few times, unless there has been blatant disrespect or misdiagnosis. 

Before you “break up” with your child’s pediatrician, be sure to find a new provider. Then, once you have that new pediatrician, call your current provider’s office and ask them to transfer your family’s records to the new office. 

If you, your child, and your pediatrician aren’t clicking, there is no shame in finding someone new. You will be seeing a lot of them in the coming years, and it’s important that you feel comfortable with them and know they have your child’s best interests at heart.