It is very important for you to have a doctor to take care of your baby as soon as he or she comes home from the hospital. You can ask the hospital doctors, social worker, discharge planner or nurses for names of doctors in the community who are familiar with your child's diagnosis. If you already have a pediatrician, let the hospital doctors know his or her name. If you are on the Medi-Cal program, Medi-Cal will give you the names of doctors who accept Medi-Cal in your area. Even if your child does not receive Medi-Cal, he/she may be eligible for Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) or CCS.  Phone numbers for MediCal, CHDP and CCS in your county can be found under "How do we get help paying for services or special equipment."

Ways To Work With Your Doctor

• Select a doctor with whom you feel comfortable. You'll be working together to help your child.
• Be assertive, ask for what you need; write down your questions as you think of them and bring them to your child's appointment.
• Give honest and direct answers and expect the same; have confidence in your own observations and opinions.
• Don't hesitate to seek a second opinion if you feel you need more information.
• You may want to bring a friend or your baby's teacher to help you ask questions and hear what's being said.  Having that person take ntes for you is always helpful.
• Ask for and keep copies of medical records and reports in a notebook. Parent record keeping notebooks (called The Family Notebook) are available through infant programs, your Regional Center or the WarmLIne Family Resource Center.