92 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2025 Parents should make sure a pediatrician is board certified. Board certification is important as it means the pediatrician has met all the necessary requirements set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This involves graduating from medical school, completing residency, and passing a standard board examination. 3. What should parents consider when looking at how the office operates? One aspect that is often overlooked is where the office is located. Is the office easy to get to? Is there ample parking? If your child needs an x-ray or blood work, are there places convenient to the office? In addition, does the office accept your insurance? When your child is sick, you’ll want to get an appointment quickly. You’ll want to Parents should consider the pediatrician as well as the doctor’s office staff and operation. know all about how the doctor’s office schedules appointments. Do they do same day appointments? Are there walk-in appointments? Also an important aspect is ease of communication with the office and pediatrician. Are there reminder phone calls, e-mails, or text messages to remind you of your upcoming appointment? Do they have a communication or messaging app? How quick will they to respond to your concerns? Lastly, if your child needs to see a specialist, how easy is it to get a referral, and will there be coordination between your pediatrician’s office and the specialist office? 4. What questions should parents ask prospective pediatricians? Pediatricians play an important role in a child’s life, so you want to make sure you “Ideally, you may want to look for a pediatrician who aligns with your beliefs.”
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