Trusting your doctor

I know you are all thinking that I am going to refute Shelly's last post with this title.  Actually my post goes hand in hand with hers.  I wanted to post about finding a doctor that you can trust and that you can talk with and work with.  (I agree with Shelly's post 100%)
There are tons of doctors to choose from, especially in pediatrics (at least here in Utah Valley).  I think one of the  most important things that you can do is find a doctor you can trust.  That goes for all areas: pediatrics, OBGYN, primary, and specialties.  Your doctor is your key to the medical world, and if you can't trust them and work with them, then you will have no access to that world. 
What you can expect:
So what does constitute a good doctor?  In my opinion a good doctor is one who is thorough, who is knowledgeable, who knows their own limits and is willing to refer you when necessary, and who is willing to listen to your concerns. 
A doctor should be able to recognize when something is wrong.  They should be familiar with what is normal, and when met with something that isn't, they should recognize that.  Now, there are a million and one diseases out there and your doctor can't be expected to know them all off the top of their head.  However, they should be able to research, or refer as needed.  Never should you leave your doctors with them saying, "not sure what it is, but you should be fine" and you still being concerned.  Especially in the case of a pediatrician, they should be able to recognize when something isn't right with your child.  That is the whole purpose of a well child check, to make sure everything is well.  I personally feel that a good pediatrician will have you do some type of development test.  My pediatricians have always done an 'ages and stages' questionnaire that allows you to see if your child's development is on track.  Having said that, your doctor should know your child well enough to be able to interpret the results accurately.  Jared was very delayed in his gross motor development and in his communication.  His doctor didn't freak out and tell me he was handicapped in any way.  she recognized that he was a very large child, and that his delay was most likely due to that.  When it became a problem (carrying around a 30lb toddler is a little hard while pregnant), she referred me to a community resource called Kids on the Move, who have been able to help me get Jared walking and progressing on his communication.  Which is another vital part of a good doctor.  They should know what resources are available.  They should know what medications are going to be the least inexpensive but effective.  A really good doctor will also know what pharmacies carry certain common medicines for cheaper, such as antibiotics. 
I think that the number one sign of an excellent doctor is that they are willing to listen to you and to take you seriously.  A lot of older doctors get stuck in their ways, and I've found quite a few younger doctors who will listen and then just kind of pat you on the back and treat you like a child.  If your doctor does that, you should look for a new doctor.  You should always feel comfortable enough to ask your doctor about anything, be it a symptom, or why they do a certain procedure (such as a routine pricking of the finger). And your doctor should trust you enough to believe when you say something or question something.
Our Heavenly Father gave us the keeping of these little children and the charge to care for them.  In doing so He did not leave us helpless.  Shelly nailed it on the head when she talked about mother's intuition.  The Spirit will guide us as we raise and care for these children and we need to trust those promptings and act on them.  When we feel something needs to be done, we need to follow through with that.  And the best way to do so is to be able trust your doctor and communicate with them. 
Having said all that, keep in mind there are not always a million doctors to choose from.  When you live in small towns, or you get into the more specialize medicine.  I am not best friends with Jared's nephrologist, but there are very few pediatric nephrologists, and he is one of the best.  And I do feel confident in his abilities, and I know that he will listen to me.  If I didn't feel like he would listen to me, then I would go find another doctor, regardless of how acclaimed he was.  You can't always have the perfect doctor in all situations, but you should be able to trust them.
Sorry this is really long, but I'll end with some suggestions on how to find them.  Talk to people!  Sometimes you can find reviews online as well.  Talk to people in your wards, in your neighborhoods.  If you know any nurses, especially those who work in hospitals, they are excellent resources.  How a doctor treats their nurses say a lot about them!
In summary:
You should feel comfortable with your doctor. 
You should be able to talk to them and ask questions. 
If you ever feel uncomfortable about something, ask! 
And if they make you feel stupid, find a new doctor!