Choosing a Specialist for your Child: What does the Process Involve?

A recent study takes a more in-depth look at how parents seek specialists for their chidl(ren) if the signs or symptoms of a more serious illness appear. According to researchers from the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, as they often easily find a primary care doctor, addressing more serious issues can be difficult.

Background information from the study notes that among the 1,232 parents surveyed in the poll, 46 percent reported that at least one of their children had been referred to a specialist.  

However, when parents were put on the spot regarding the process, parents showed a wide ranges of views, according to Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., associate director of the National Poll on Children's Health and associate research scientist in the University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics.

Many parents are often divided regarding who is responsible for choosing the specialist. For instance, statistics show that approximately 52 percent ay the PCP and 48 percent say the parent. There were also differences regarding insurance coverage, with 55 percent saying the PCP should provide and 45 percent saying the parent.  

"This poll shows a wide range of views about who is supposed to do what, so it's not unexpected that sometimes the process doesn't work well," added Clark, via a press release. "If a referral is delayed or it doesn't happen at all, a child's health can be put at risk."

For parents of children with Medicaid insurance, they also found that these individuals felt that PCPs should be responsible for choosing a specialist. Clark believes that this indicates that PCPs should understand that Medicaid patients may have different expectations regarding the roles of specialists.

The poll also found that parents of children with Medicaid insurance coverage are more likely than parents of privately-insured children to say PCPs should be responsible for choosing the specialist, calling to set up the appointment, and verifying that insurance will cover the specialist care. Clark says this indicates that PCPs should understand that their Medicaid patients may have different expectations about their roles.

Parents also were asked to rank the importance of different characteristics of specialists, and rated the following as very important, courtesy of the release:

• knowing how to take care of the child's specific condition (89 percent)
• having training in pediatrics (80 percent)
• being affiliated with a highly-rated hospital (62 percent)
• being involved in research so child has access to latest treatment (50 percent)
• appointment time convenient for the family schedule (43 percent)
• drive time to the specialist (38 percent)
• other parents recommending the specialist (38 percent)

"For a parent, hearing that a child needs to see a specialist is often cause for concern. Confusion about their responsibilities for arranging specialty care can add to parents' anxiety," Clark concluded, who also is associate director of the Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit. "Primary care providers cannot assume that parents understand their responsibilities around making specialty appointments.  Clear communication - ideally, with instructions written in plain language - will help parents ensure their kids get the care they need."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found here.