Haverford College Grad & Physician Writes "Doctor-Speak" Decoding Book

By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Having a sick or hurt child can be frightening and worrisome, and a visit with the doctor just might leave you more confused than anything. That's why a Haverford College grad, now a pediatrician of long-standing, has a new book to help.

Doctor-speak can be mystifying. How Your Child Heals, by Dr. Christopher Johnson, may be the translation. In it, he takes a look at what he calls a "smorgasbord" of common hurts and ailments, so that when you have that talk with the doctor, you already understand the basics. One of those is that kids heal really well.

"It's certainly over half—and maybe even three-quarters—of kids who are taken to the doctor really are going to get better on their own, but what you get from the doctor and the reason you go there, is to get information about what's going to happen and what this is and what this isn't."

Dr. Johnson also says office visits can be so rushed that the physician has no time to answer all your questions, but with the book, you'll know a lot in advance.