Re: Fwd: Know What: Referrals to a Specialist

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting that ! I'm sure it'll help a lot of us

parents

Debbie Abby's mom

MI

> Just got this email- thought it might be helpful to some of you

starting out!

>

> ' Mom

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ! Whatever would we do without you?!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Just got this email- thought it might be helpful to some of you

starting out!

>

> ' Mom

>

> rella1234@a... ()

> From: knowwhat@k...

> Subject: Know What: Referrals to a Specialist

> Date: Thursday, March 21, 2002

>

>

> =================== Advertisement =======================

>

> Are you a fan of the latest and greatest blockbusters to hit the

screen or do you like to curl up to a classic? Either way, join the

Columbia House DVD club and you'll get 4 DVDs for 49¢ each! When you

sign up for Columbia House DVD Club you can choose from titles like

Spy Kids, The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, The Matrix and more.

ADVANCE BONUS OFFER! Take a 5th movie now for $14.95.

>

> Click Here to get Started

>

> <A HREF= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/knowwhat.cgi?l=Columbia_House_DVD_club " >Click Here to get

Started</A>

>

>

=====================================================================

>

> Here is today's Know What topic:

>

> =========================

> Referrals to a Specialist

> =========================

>

> When should your child see a specialist? Unfortunately, for some

children, it is only when your doctor or insurance company says that

you can.

>

> Personally, I think that there are two main reasons for a child to

get a referral to a specialist. The first reason is because I, as

their Pediatrician, think they should. It may be that I don't know

what is wrong with the child, or I know what is wrong and he just

needs a specialist's care for further management.

>

> The second reason is because a parent thinks that their child

should see a specialist. It may be that you are uncomfortable with

what your Pediatrician has said or you may just want a second

opinion.

>

> For example, you may have a child that has had a lot of ear

infections, say 6 or 9 in the past year, but you have a doctor

that 'doesn't believe in tubes' and won't send you to a specialist.

In this case, since many other doctors would think that ear tubes

were indicated, a second opinion or referral to a specialist would be

a good idea. In contrast, I recently saw a patient who has had a lot

of ear infections in the past month. Since spring was coming and he

was getting older and would be less likely to get more infections, I

didn't recommend that he get tubes. The mother thought he might need

them though, so I referred him to an ENT specialist for a second

opinion.

>

> So what should you do if your Pediatrician doesn't offer to send

you to a specialist? The first thing is to simply ask if you can get

a referral. If you explain that you would be more comfortable getting

a second opinion, I think that most Pediatricians will give you the

referral. At the very least, you could ask your Pediatrician to call

a specialist on the phone and discuss the case further with them.

>

> What if your Pediatrician refuses? Depending on your insurance, you

may just be able to get an appointment yourself. Your other options

are changing Pediatricians, or appealing to your insurance company.

>

> Even if you don't need a referral, it is usually a good idea to ask

your Pediatrician for one anyway. That way you can be sure to see

someone that your Pediatrician knows and trusts.

>

> What type of specialist should you see? In most cases, you should

try to see a Pediatric specialist, for example a Pediatric

Neurologist if you toddler has seizures instead of a general

Neurologist. Pediatric specialists have special training in taking

care of the problems of children and many, except for surgical

specialists, are also Pediatricians.

>

>

>

> For more information:

> <a href= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/knowwhat.cgi?

l=inside_pediatrics/referrals_specialist.html " >Referrals to a

Specialist</a>

>

>

> <a href= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/knowwhat.cgi " >more Know What topics</a>

>

>

> <a href= " http://www.keepkidshealthy.com " >Visit

keepkidshealthy.com</a>

>

>

======================================================================

=====

>

> You have received this email because you are

> subscribed to the daily Know What newsletter from

> KeepKidsHealthy.com. To unsubscribe, click on this link:

> <a href= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/newsletters.cgi?p=unsubscribe & e=rella1234@a... " >Unsubscribe</a>

>

> To change your email address, click on this link:

> <a href= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/newsletters.cgi?p=changeemail & e=rella1234@a... " >Change Your Email

Address</a>