Moving to Goodyear,AZ from Dallas,TX. Any recommendations on good pediatrician/cardiologist? (Phoenix: live in)

[mzLaurenx3]

Hello

My husband and I will be moving to Goodyear area with our two kids (2 & 1year old.). My older child has a heart problem and has to go see a cardiologist once every three months and will need to have a heart surgery before he turns 5. Do any of you know of a good pediatric cardiologist and a pediatrician he can see?

Any input will be appreciated! Thanks

[Skywayy2001]

Phoenix Children's Hospital

[mzLaurenx3]

thank you! Is there a particular MD you would recommend?

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by mzLaurenx3

thank you! Is there a particular MD you would recommend?

The beauty of this area is you have a TON of medical choices. I think you would have a hard time finding a recommendation for such a specialized doctor (pediatric cardiologist) on a internet forum that wasn't dedicated to medical issues specifically pediatric cardiology. I'm sure there are forums out there that discuss these issues in children where you might have better luck with a recommendation.

I live in Goodyear and my daughter was having some neurology issues and a local doctor in Goodyear made an excellent recommendation to a pediatric neurologist at Phoenix Children's Hospital. I think it would be easier to find a good Pediatrician and have them help you with a recommendation to a cardiologist.

[azriverfan.]

You will need to establish and follow-up with a regular pediatrician. This person can then refer you to a pediatric cardiologist. That would be my recommendation. So you should focus your search on finding a great pediatrician in this area. There are great pediatric cardiologists at Phoenix Childrens however, they tend to be busy and if you can find one in the outpatient/clinical setting in your area, that will be easier on you and your family. Nearly everyone who is board certified in pediatric cardiology is going to be trained well so I wouldn't worry about where someone works. You want someone who will be thorough, and has a great bedside manner. Remember, that doctors in the academic environment tend to be great academics and not necessarily the best clinicians which is what you want. However, if you child has an extremely rare cardiomyopathy that requires the aid of a lot of physicians (surgeons etc) then I would go to Phoenix Childrens.

I'm an adult cardiologist and I make my job easier by finding my patients great primary care doctors. Remember 80% of a person's condition will be managed by a PCP and people take that for granted. The specialist makes recommendations and initiates a therapy but rarely manages those patients. For example, the PCP's I work with make sure my patients are compliant with their medications, note any adverse reactions and makes certain they follow-up with routine tests with specialists. If my patients have a lousy PCP or no PCP, that is additional work and stress on me.

You really want to focus and find the best general pediatrician you can. The best ones work with the best subspecialists and know who to refer to. Rarely will you find a great PCP referring to a lousy specialist.

[mzLaurenx3]

Thank you so much for your response. I will try that route. Have a blessed day everyone!

[CheyDee]

I disagree with some of the above. I would definitely take into consideration where someone works. I wouldn't want my child to see a well-trained specialist in some outpatient clinic and then, when necessary, hook-up with another one when it's inpatient/procedure/surgery time, because the clinic practioner is affiliated with a second-rate facility or one less experienced with cases like my child's.

I agree with the Phoenix Children's Hospital recommendation. I also agree about needing a good pediatrician, but not because it would cause "additional work and stress" for a physician without one, which wouldn't even make my list of criteria.