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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Pediatrician in Washington, book an appointment, and see the Pediatrician within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Pediatricians in Washington who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Washington Pediatrician who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Pediatricians in Washington and book appointments instantly. You can search for Washington Pediatricians by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Washington Pediatricians on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Pediatricians in Washington who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Washington Pediatricians with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Pediatricians in Washington who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Pediatricians in Washington on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Pediatricians who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Pediatricians in Washington who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Pediatrician who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Pediatricians in Washington. Many Pediatricians offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
The American Academy of Pediatrics classifies pediatrics as a medical science specialty focusing on social, physical, and mental well-being from birth to young adulthood. It is a discipline that deals with environmental, biological, and social influences on developing children.
Pediatric care refers to services a certified pediatrician provides to a child under 21. It covers extensive health services, from treating acute and chronic diseases to diagnosis and preventative care.
Aspiring pediatricians undergo extensive training and education. First, individuals complete a four-year undergraduate degree in the sciences, which includes pre-medical courses like biology and chemistry. After this, they attend medical school for another four years and study subjects such as anatomy and physiology. In addition to studying theory, they also need to take part in clinical rotations where they learn about the different areas of medicine. These typically include pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and radiology. During this period, aspirants usually decide on the field of medicine they want to specialize in.
Doctors specializing in pediatrics move on to a three-year pediatric residency program. The residency program includes additional training in pediatric specialties such as newborns, general pediatrics, newborn intensive care, and developmental-behavioral pediatrics. During this training period, pediatricians attain the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to treat a broad range of conditions in children.
After residency, some pediatricians may go into general pediatric practice. Others may enroll in fellowship programs where they receive further training in pediatric subspecialties. Common pediatric subspecialties include neonatology, child abuse, pediatric cardiology, adolescent medicine, pediatric critical care medicine, medical toxicology, and pediatric surgery. These programs take anywhere from two to six years of training. All pediatricians need to complete an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 hours of patient care during training.
You should consult the best pediatrician near you if your child is experiencing the below-mentioned symptoms:
If you have a newborn, you should take your baby for well-child visits at least six times before their first birthday. Your child's nurse or pediatrician can help understand your baby's development, growth, and habits in the first few days. After the first visit, follow-up visits should happen when your baby turns:
After three years, pediatrician visits must continue until your child reaches 18 or 21, after which they can switch to a provider who sees adults.
While taking your children to a general practitioner or pediatrician when they fall sick is necessary, the importance of regular pediatric visits should not be overlooked.
Here are some benefits of seeing a pediatrician routinely:
The first well-baby checkup generally occurs two to three days after the birth and after returning from the hospital. A pediatrician or nurse would first record your baby's weight, length, and head circumference measurements. Ensure you show your pediatrician all the hospital paperwork you received after discharge. This information includes your newborn's weight immediately after birth and any complications during or after delivery.
Your doctor may also ask you some questions, such as:
You may also put forth your concerns to the pediatrician at this point. Before visiting the pediatrician, list questions you may have regarding your baby's feeding and growth patterns. You can also ask your pediatrician how to maintain infant hygiene at home, what developmental milestones you should record at home, and what to do when your child has a high fever or is not eating or passing stools.
Your doctor may also perform a basic physical exam, including a hearing test and an eye exam. They may also check your baby's heartbeat for any irregularities. Further, upon evaluation, they may recommend screening tests or refer you to a specialist if necessary. Your baby will also receive vaccinations, like the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). You can ask your pediatrician what other immunizations your child should receive in the upcoming months.
Pediatricians are primary care providers trained in internal medicine for infants and children. So, at a certain age, you may want your child to transition to a doctor specializing in treating young adults. There is no particular age when it comes to switching to another provider. Generally, young adults make the switch between the ages of 18 and 21. However, depending on your child's specific health concerns, they may still have to stay under the care of a pediatrician. Children who find it hard to connect to their pediatrician can also make the switch at an early age.
Changing doctors can take a while, and you should be prepared for it beforehand so your child can smoothly transition to another provider. You can start this discussion with your child's pediatrician when they reach middle or high school age. Make sure you coordinate with your pediatrician to find a reliable specialist. Ask them if they can recommend a trustworthy provider. Also, ensure you have all your child's health records ready for the new doctor.
Do you doubt that your child has a hearing problem? Is your child prone to getting a cold? Does your child's fever last more than 3-4 days? Does your child experience a burning sensation when urinating? Is your child infected with bronchiolitis? Is your child suffering from skin conditions or an infection? Are your children infected with bacteria? Is your child having trouble sleeping? Have you noticed any rashes on your child's body? Are you concerned about your child's excessive vomiting? Do you see your child having difficulty breathing? If any of those mentioned above apply to you, don't panic. All you need for your child's care is a trained, certified pediatrician. Zocdoc is a platform that helps you find the best pediatricians near you.
You can create an account on Zocdoc and search for pediatricians by condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A list of providers will be generated based on the information you enter. If you have any concerns regarding your insurance, use the Zocdoc insurance checker. Patients can leave reviews on the platform. The verified reviews will assist you in locating the top-rated pediatrician in Washington, DC, for your child. Each pediatrician has a profile where they can add information such as a brief introduction, education qualifications, practice location, reason for visit, and board certifications.
You can also look for a pediatrician in Washington, DC, currently available for pediatric care. On Zocdoc, video visits are also available to help you get clarity if the pediatrician communicates clearly to explain illnesses and treatments.
All appointments on Zocdoc are fast, secure, and free!
It is essential to safeguard and improve children's and adolescents' health. In Washington, DC, the cases of bronchiolitis, obesity, asthma, infant deaths, and many more issues require pediatric care. However, people are taking their children to well-care centers. Children are also receiving nutritional and physical activity counseling.
Children's National saw 300 bronchiolitis cases during the first three weeks of July 2021. Obesity affects 14.2% of Washington DC's children aged 10 to 17 years. According to the State of Childhood Obesity, many children aged 2-4 years and 10-17 years are obese (12.8% and 14.2 respectively).
In 2020, Washington DC's infant mortality rate was 4.3 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births). With 7.9 deaths under one per 1,000 live births in 2012, Washington, DC, has the highest infant mortality rate. There were 15,991 children and adolescents who had asthma at the end of 2020. As stated by the American Lung Association, 10.9% of children in Washington, DC, had asthma in 2018. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, 8.7% of children aged 6 to 9 years died from influenza and pneumonia.
According to the Children's Health Care Report Card, 81.6% of 2-year-old children were immunized. In 2020, 67.9% of children aged 3 to 17 received a weight assessment and nutrition and physical activity counseling.
Center for Children & Families
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
National Center for Biotechnology Information
American Academy of Pediatrics[1]
American Academy of Pediatrics[2]
University of Rochester Medical Center
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.