Using our General Doctor as Pediatrician

FitMama2013

Quick question...my husband was at our general doctor today for an appointment. He asked for a referral for a pediatrician for our little one, and our doctor mentioned that he is actually a pediatrician too. After some Internet searches, it appears as though he's been licensed and certified in pediatrics since 1996.

We've been going to this doctor for a few years and we like him, but is that a little strange? Do y'all see great benefits in having a pediatrician who only sees children, or is this more normal than it seems to me?

He encouraged my husband and I to make an appointment with him to "interview him" or his other two colleagues who are also pediatricians to see if we would like for him to care for our baby.

jamie31

I go to a family practice and will be using my Physician as a pediatrician. I really like her and she has three young kids of her own so i feel very comfortable having my baby see her. its also very convenient for me. The dr is right down the road from us and since i have asthma and ADD and have to get written scripts i can always just get them while i take the baby for a checkip

I think if you guys are comfortable with the doctor then go for it.

mormonmomma11

I love that my husband, myself, and baby (soon to be babies) all see the same doctor. It makes family history stuff nice and when all of us come down with something he's more likely to write perscriptions up for all of us, even if we technically only have one of us in for the appt. Plus he's sooo good with kids. My 17 month old really likes him and he's great at getting down on the kids level.

jls8209

I've only been with my GP for a little over a year, but I'm comfortable using him as my pediatrician. Like another PP said, mine has young kids of his own, which makes me more comfortable. Besides, I grew up using the same doctor as my parents (birth - 29, when I moved away), so the idea of having a separate doctor for my kids is foreign to me. DH has sees a different doctor, but when we first moved to town we set it up that way so that if one of us didn't like our doctor we could switch to the other. I feel comfortable knowing that DH's doc is there as a back up if we ever need him.

nursenikki829

GP's are great, but for my children I prefer using a pediatrician. As a nurse, I wouldn't let a GP handle cardiac or respiratory care, I would see a specialist. So, for my three kids and my soon to be fourth, I prefer the finely honed skills of our pediatrician. Plus, at the GP's office you have to worry about more bugs being brought in the the elderly (ie MRSA brought in by an elderly patient that is frequently in the hospital). I work with doctors, and I know that doctors have specialties for a reason. Just think of it this way: would you go to a general surgeon for a joint surgery or go to an orthopedist? Yes, the general surgeon could probably do it, but you would really want someone that if specialized in the field that does it all day every day. That being said, I am not trying to put down anyone that uses their GP, this is just my feeling when it comes to my kids.

blink1021

My nine year old sees the same doctor as my husband and I not by choice but because he has to. We unfortunately moved when my son was a baby and when I tried to find a pediatrician no one would take him because they didn't have him from birth. I had a few tell me that they would see my son if I had another baby and enrolled the new baby in the practice I got ticked off and found a GP who I loved and he was really good with my son he also helped me fight the school when the school wanted him to medicate my child for ADHD without looking into other avenues. I always went to a GP when I was a kid and I was born with a birth defect that my GP found when I was a baby. I don't feel that just because someone specializes in children it makes them better qualified. It is so hard to find a doctor you like that I would stick with who I like. We unfortunately are looking into a pediatrician for our new baby and will also ask him to take our son only because recently my GP passed away suddenly and I am forced to find a new one. I went to the doctor he shared the practice with and she is ok, but my son is having an issue with her being a woman.

jls8209

GP's are great, but for my children I prefer using a pediatrician. As a nurse, I wouldn't let a GP handle cardiac or respiratory care, I would see a specialist. So, for my three kids and my soon to be fourth, I prefer the finely honed skills of our pediatrician. Plus, at the GP's office you have to worry about more bugs being brought in the the elderly (ie MRSA brought in by an elderly patient that is frequently in the hospital). I work with doctors, and I know that doctors have specialties for a reason. Just think of it this way: would you go to a general surgeon for a joint surgery or go to an orthopedist? Yes, the general surgeon could probably do it, but you would really want someone that if specialized in the field that does it all day every day. That being said, I am not trying to put down anyone that uses their GP, this is just my feeling when it comes to my kids.

I always went to a GP when I was a kid and I was born with a birth defect that my GP found when I was a baby. I don't feel that just because someone specializes in children it makes them better qualified.

I have to agree with Blink on this one. I feel a GP is just as qualified to look for health problems in children. If a serious health problem was found, I would expect the GP would send the child to a specialist, same as he would an adult. I know when I was younger my GP had no issue sending me to specialists when I needed them. Also, I have friends who use a pediatrician, and he can't help them with certain health problems (respiratory problems, as a matter of fact) and sends them off to specialists when needed. Just because the pediatrician "specializes" in children, doesn't mean he can treat all childhood problems. As for the germs, yes, doctor's offices are germy, but anything you touch out in public is going to be covered in germs. I always see people in public washrooms leave without washing their hands, then they go out and handle grocery carts, etc.

tinyjourney

Quick question...my husband was at our general doctor today for an appointment. He asked for a referral for a pediatrician for our little one, and our doctor mentioned that he is actually a pediatrician too. After some Internet searches, it appears as though he's been licensed and certified in pediatrics since 1996.

If by licensed and certified in pediatrics you mean certified by the American Board of Pediatrics (or similar body for other countries), then I would be comfortable. One thing I've been looking for in a peds specific practice is their after hours care options. If you GP has options for sick appointments on Saturdays or evenings then *I* think a GP that is also certified in Pediatrics is an ideal situation for a family.

chickybuns

I see nothing wrong with it, if you are comfortable with her GP. I personally don't have a GP, so I am going to go for a pediatrician...I know I need to find one though for me and DH, and I probably wouldn't mind switching if I really liked my GP.