When choosing a pediatrician for your child, most parents look for qualities like experience, compassion, and accessibility. But one important factor that often gets overlooked is whether your pediatrician has active hospital privileges. This can make a big difference in the care your child receives—especially during those times when extra support is needed.
What Are Active Hospital Privileges?
Hospital privileges mean that a pediatrician is credentialed to care for patients at a particular hospital. This includes the ability to admit children, provide direct care during a hospital stay, and coordinate with the hospital care team.
Why Are Hospital Privileges Important?
Seamless Care from Clinic to Hospital
If your child ever needs to be admitted, having your own pediatrician involved ensures continuity of care. Your pediatrician already knows your child’s medical history, growth patterns, and family dynamics—things that hospitalists or on-call doctors may not.
Advocacy for Your Child
A pediatrician with hospital privileges can serve as your child’s advocate, making sure their unique needs are understood and met. They can communicate directly with nurses, specialists, and other providers on your behalf.
Comfort and Reassurance for Families
Families often feel more at ease knowing that their trusted pediatrician is actively involved during a hospitalization. That familiar face can make a stressful experience a little easier for both parents and children.
Quality and Accountability
Hospitals grant privileges only to physicians who meet rigorous standards for training, licensing, and ongoing performance. This extra layer of oversight provides peace of mind for families.
The Bottom Line
Your child’s health is too important to leave to chance. By choosing a pediatrician with hospital privileges, you’re ensuring that your child has access to comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate care—whether in the office or the hospital.
At Lake Country Pediatrics, S.C. all of our pediatricians maintain active hospital privileges at ProHealth Care Oconomowoc and ProHealth Care Waukesha. That means when your child needs us most, we’ll be right there—by your side every step of the way.