Choosing a Pediatrician: One Mom's Journey

Even before I moved to Murrieta, we went to  

Finding the best pediatrician for your family is an undertaking, but soo worth the effort!  I have spent so many hours in her office and on the phone with her and I had no idea when I first made the decision to make her my children's doctor, how important this relationship would be. 

I asked around for references, did Internet searches and interviews but the consensus in my neighborhood was, "Dr. Hurwitz is the best out there!", "We love Dr. Hurwitz", "She is a meticulous clinician", "The kids love her", and of course a mommas dream, "She is available 24/7". 

She was the one pediatrician that answered my questions and encouraged me to come in and meet her before I had sick kids.  The interview was quick, about five minutes and made a lasting impression on me. 

I had a couple of concerns about going to someone so well liked in the community and that was - would we ever be able to get in and to see her?  Would we have to wait in a room for too long with other sick kids?  Well, we wait, just like everyone else waits in the doctor's office, but it is never for more than a few minutes.  She and her staff are mindful that parents don't want to have to wait in the waiting room and they get you back very quickly.   

Well checks?  For those, there is another waiting room for that and there is no fear of catching "the bug" on that side of the office.  Waiting rooms are pretty clean and comfortable, nothing fancy but just fine for the few minutes you are in there.  Ample seating and a fish tank with a few fish in it that keep the little ones occupied while you fill out paperwork on your first visit, a few books, a delightful staff, tissue and antibacterial gel.

Dr. Hurwitz spends time getting to know your family. She talks to the kids and asks questions that help her make a diagnosis. She cares. Simple, she cares about her patients. (I've even seen her tear up when she needed to deliver news that was difficult to hear.)  Sick on the weekend or early in the morning or in the middle of the night? If you call her office, you will most likely talk directly to her. Not an answering system or a service that gives you an after hours line but her. You need to come in on the weekend?  She will assess the urgency and if need be she will meet you at her office - Really. Need a different prescription because the one prescribed is way too expensive on your plan? She will discuss the options and tell you if there is a comparable option. If there isn't she will tell you that. If there is, she will gladly call the pharmacy and make the revision. She often says, "If it were my child, this is what I would do." She takes your parental intuition into consideration. If you don't feel right about something, she will listen. 

25395 Hancock Avenue Suite 250

Murrieta, CA 92562

In our case, Dr. Kathleen Hurwitz was the right choice in the search for the best pediatrician for our family.  Certainly, there are other pediatricians in the area that are wonderful, but she is just perfect for us!  We love you Dr. Hurwitz!