8. Questions to Ask a Pediatrician or Healthcare Provider
The questions below may help you create
a useful dialogue with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. You
may also have other questions to add to the list.
•What are your qualifications and training?
•Are you board certified? If not, will you be soon (are you “board eligible”)?
•What hospital(s) are you affiliated with?
•Do you have privileges at the hospital where I will deliver?
•Will you do the newborn exam?
•If I have a boy, will you perform the circumcision (if we want to have it done)?
•What is your availability?
•Can an acutely ill child be seen the same day?
•How can we reach you in case of an emergency or after office hours?
•Who responds if you are not available?
•Do you return phone calls the same day?
•Are you interested in preventive, developmental and behavioral issues?
•How does the practice operate?
•Do you provide written instructions for well-baby and sick-baby care?
•What are your fees?
•Do your fees comply with our insurance?
•What is the nearest (to our home) emergency room or urgent-care center you would send us to?
9. Analyzing Your Visit
Some issues can be resolved only by
analyzing your feelings after your visit. Below are some things you and
your partner might want to discuss after your visit.
•Are
the healthcare provider’s philosophies and attitudes acceptable to us,
such as use of antibiotics and other medications, child-rearing
practices or related religious beliefs?
•Did the healthcare provider listen to us?
•Did he or she seem genuinely interested in our concerns?
•Do we feel comfortable with this person?
•Is the office comfortable, clean and bright?
•Did the office staff seem cordial, open and easy to talk to?
10. The Cost of Having a Baby
It costs a lot of money to have a baby,
no matter where you live in the United States. Costs vary depending on
how long you stay in the hospital, what type of anesthesia you have and
whether you or your baby have complications.
At your first prenatal visit, ask about
the fees for prenatal care, including delivery. Nearly every medical
office employs someone who deals with insurance questions; he or she
may know about things you haven’t considered. Often this insurance
person knows the answers to these questions or can help you get
answers. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask questions about the
financial side of your pregnancy. Every healthcare provider expects it.
You may also need to check with
the hospital and your insurance company. When you communicate with an
insurance company, have a list of questions ready. Write down the
answers so you can refer to them later, especially if you need to
discuss them with your healthcare provider.
11. Costs in Canada
The Canadian healthcare system is very
different from the healthcare system in the United States. Canadians
pay a healthcare premium on a monthly basis, and pregnancy costs vary
depending on the province you live in. The healthcare provider who
delivers your baby is paid by the government, not you.
