The Savvy Mom's Guide to Medical Care

Though one may question the savvy of the parents addressed in this book if they need to be told to shake down a thermometer before use or to dress a baby in easily removable clothes for a trip to the doctor, readers will generally find comfort in the authors' pragmatic (and occasionally psychologically minded) advice on controlling your child's medical care. Gallin, a leading pediatric opthalmologist, and co-author Matthews accompany the reader through various ordeals, such as choosing a physician or deciding whether a child needs to see the doctor. The book sweeps through the business of well-child care, then moves on to common children's ailments; it concludes with several chapters on diagnoses of chronic and serious illnesses, emergency rooms, surgery and hospitalizations. Through it all, Gallin and Matthews focus on the broad issue of navigating the medical sea and continually draw on a physician's viewpoint, such as their advice to parents about the perils of playing diagnostician in the doctor's office. In order to insure quality care for your child in this complex age, they contend, you don't have to know how to practice medicine, ""but you must know how to arrange it.""(Oct.)