doctor visits: easing the overwhelm
Doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists are valuable members of your child’s care team. But time with them can sometimes be short and chaotic.
Our resources help give parents the confidence and tools needed to make care team interactions less stressful and more productive.
14 ways to know if a doctor is right for you
We all want doctors who can meet us where we are and partner with us to deliver the best care possible for our children.
Expertise, location, and cost are huge factors when choosing a doctor. But if you have multiple options, 14 questions can help you decide which one is best for your family.
1. Do I trust the provider?
2. Do I feel comfortable asking the provider questions?
3. Do I feel comfortable sharing my concerns with the provider?
4. Does the provider allow time for questions, or does he “listen with his answer running?”
5. Does the provider prioritize my questions or leave them until the end of our time together?
6. How accessible is the provider when I have a question or concern? Can I communicate via phone or an online portal outside of appointments?
7. Does the provider trust my intuition? Are my hunches valued and treated with respect?
8. How does the provider respond when I ask for clarification or respectfully push back?
9. Does the provider communicate in ways that I understand? Does she use family-friendly language? Does she provide visual aids?
10. Does the provider make time to get to know my child? Does he interact with my child, even if my child communicates nonverbally?
11. Does the provider treat my child as a person first — and then a patient?
12. Does the provider ask how I’m doing and what support I need?
13. How does the provider respond when I share credible medical research to support my questions or guide our conversations?
14. How well does the provider communicate with my child’s primary care doctor and other specialists?
getting the most out of appointments
This simple tool from Family Voices can help parents:
- Learn to trust our instincts in healthcare settings
- Organize our questions and be comfortable asking them and clarifying them
- Set realistic goals for appointments — and achieve them
communicating with your child’s care team
This video from the Courageous Parents Network can help parents:
- Prepare for appointments in order to make the most of them
- Communicate effectively with doctors, nurses, therapists, and other care team members
- Confidently ask questions, seek clarification, and raise concerns
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