Talking With Your Child's Doctor

Sharing information with your child's doctor helps your child get the best care.

Talking to your child's doctor is the best way to get the best treatment for your child. Knowing what to expect puts your mind at ease and helps you answer your child's questions. Your child's caregivers can provide the best care when they learn as much as possible about you and your child.

Before your visit ask...

Does the health care team my child is visiting have a complete list of all medicines my child is on (including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and herbal medicine)?
What tests (if any) should be done before my child's visit?
How long will my child's visit take?
Does the health care team need any information about my child's condition?
Do I need to do anything to get ready for the visit, procedure or test?
Do I need to bring any records or test results to the appointment?
Is there any information about this visit that I or my child can read ahead of time?
Does the health care team know what my child's allergies are (medications, food, dyes or latex)?

After your visit ask...

What is the care plan or going-home instructions for my child? (Please ask any questions you may have about the plan.)
Who do I contact if I have questions about my child's care, medicines or home equipment?
Who should I call if I have questions about my child's test or procedure results?
Does my child need any immunization?
Do I need to schedule any new appointments before leaving?
Who do I call in case of an emergency? After hours?
Does my health care team member have my child's current weight?
Who do I contact if I have financial concerns?

About your child's medicines ask...

Do I have all the information I need for any newly prescribed medicine (what it is for, how to take it, how much to take, special considerations and side effects, is the prescription readable and understandable)?
Are there any foods my child should not eat while taking the medicine? Is it OK to break, chew, crumble or mix the medicine (empty capsule and mix with applesauce or juice)?
How do I prepare and store the medicine?
Is the medicine safe if my child is allergic to some medicines?
When should I see my child start to get better?
Does this medicine affect any dietary supplements that my child is on (such as Pediasure, Ensure)?