As a mom, I really dread my kids getting ill and having to go to the hospital. The unpredictability, the rigorous protocols to follow, every single hospital worker you have to interact with and all these happen, before you actually get to see the paediatrician. Honestly by the time I finally get into the consultation room, I’m tired. Imagine going through all these processes with a sick child. This might not be the story for private hospitals.
This is why we should adapt telemedicine readily, many of us already practice this knowingly or unknowingly. If there’s a doctor’s number on your phone whom you can call and see if you could get a quick diagnosis, that’s telemedicine right there. Sometimes kids may not need to go to the hospital, some fever relievers and enough fluid and ORS might do the job of getting them well.
Regardless, there are times when we must see the paediatrician, when home or over the counter remedies have failed or telemedicine cannot accurately address the problem. While we must undertake this daunting task, we can make things easier for ourselves and for our kids.
Here is my ten step guide for surviving a visit to the Paediatrician's;
1. Please know somebody. Or know somebody who might know somebody. This is Nigeria, it’s very easy to know people, a little PR here and there and friendliness will take you a long way. That security man/woman, the records officer, the receiving nurse, just be nice and cooperative, it’ll help your current and future visit.
2. Have everything ready. The hospital card, vaccination card, names of drugs you administered at home. If you have a thermometer, bring it to show the doctor.
3. Prepare your answers to the doctors questions. My mother in law used to have a piece of paper where she wrote down all her complaints and all her queries. Please help the doctor to help you. When doctors prescribe, their notes have to defend the drugs given out. So don’t wait for them to start writing drugs before you uncover new complaints. Be mindful of the doctors time and the time of other waiting patients.
4. Bring support or a helper. Children need extra attention even when healthy, when ill and taking them to a not so familiar environment, the task doubles. Don’t shy away from asking for help.
5. The doctor may need to examine your child or take blood samples or administer an injection. Wear clothes and shoes that are easily removable.
6. Respectfully relay your medical queries, concerns from any google research you have done. Remember that your visit to the paediatrician is not a debate session. If you’re not satisfied with the doctors diagnosis or answers to your questions. Politely ask if and from whom you can get a 2nd opinion. This is the health of your child, it is okay to want more confirmation.
7. If you are going to a government hospital, just bring your first Aid box from home. I’m assuming your first aid box has things like thermometer, gloves, ORS, plaster, cotton wool, spirit. So you don’t need to run around getting things in case these are needed.
8. Have alternative methods of payment. Bank cards, bank transfers, cash. You might need to spend more , the network might fail or there might be a pay point that only accepts cash.
9. Have water, snacks, a power bank somewhere cause you never really know how long the visit will take.
10. Keep all your receipts, results and prescriptions safely. Especially if your records aren’t on a computer system from where they can be easily printed out. If you misplace those papers, you could be in for another hassle.
Here’s a bonus point: For kids, honestly some tests aren’t necessary, but the doctor might order them just to allay the fears of the parents, blame the ‘doubting Thomases’ for this. Sometimes you can ask the doctor which tests are absolutely necessary; I’m not trying to save you some money, I’m trying to save your child from avoidable pain. Often times tests are ordered to confirm a diagnosis, but some diagnoses may not need a laboratory confirmation.
