Does your Dr do this?

[Sonya]

The kids' pedi charges $10 if I call after hours to talk to the Dr on call. My own Dr doesn't do this, nor did my OBGYN. Out of all the types of Drs, I would think that the pedi would need to be the one who waved the fee. However I know why they do this, I don't blame them. I just think with kids there are a lot of new parents out there who need some help.

 

[KadysMom]

My pedi does not do that. I have called him at 2:00 in the morning before and he has always called me right back, day or night

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Mine doesnt do this. I don't know any that do. I agree with you that of all docs, they shouldnt. They should be understanding that new parents will call more often than seasoned ones.

 

[KristiKelly]

Mine doesn't do this either and I have called a bunch.

 

[lulugirl]

My pediatricians office has an alternate number (the hospital they are associated with) you can call to talk w/ a pediatric nurse. They are available 24/7, you leave a message, they call back within 30 minutes. There is no charge for it.

 

[isyne4u]

My pediatricians office has an alternate number (the hospital they are associated with) you can call to talk w/ a pediatric nurse. They are available 24/7, you leave a message, they call back within 30 minutes. There is no charge for it.

same here! I've used this lots of times!!

 

[jbmom]

Mine does not charge me.

 

[Kimmumum]

I have never heard of this before. I don't know of any dr's around here that charge for after hour calls.

 

[ElizaB39]

No, mine does not do this.

 

[CharmCityGirl]

I have heard of this before. I don't think it's that unusual.

 

[dismom9761]

No charge here.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Our pediatric group charges $25 for an after-hours phone call. The one time I made an after-hours call to the answering service, they also reminded me that we would be charged if the doctor was paged.

 

[Heidict]

My Pedi, PCP and OBGYN do not do this.

I also work billing for an extremly large medical school. Hundreds of doctors. None of them do this either.

I have never heard of it.

 

[merekc]

I've had two different pediatricians. One in KCMo and one in KCKS, neither have charged. I also don't know of anyone who charges. Are you familiar with Ask A Nurse from SM Med, you might call them first in the future, since they are free. Let me know if you need the number, with two boys I'm practically on a first name basis with them...and poison control.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Mine doesn't, but I can see why some would. I know people who call the doctor every time their child coughs, and it would get old having many patients with little common sense. If a charge would cause people to think a minute and decide whether or not a call was really necessary, it would mean a better quality of life for the doctor. While they need to be accessible to their patients, they get to have a personal life too.

 

[justjulie]

We don't even have that option - the best we have is a 24-hour Telehealth line that connects you to a nurse

 

[momof2inPA]

No. If you don't want to be bothered after hours, you shouldn't become a Pediatrician. It comes with the territory.

 

[Pigeon]

No, and I'd find a doctor who doesn't. That's just nuts.

 

[DawnCt1]

Our pediatric group charges $25 for an after-hours phone call. The one time I made an after-hours call to the answering service, they also reminded me that we would be charged if the doctor was paged.

That is awful! I consider DH's time as valuable as anyone, but after hours coverage, weekend and night call come with the territory of taking care of sick people and sometimes just people who think they are sick.

 

[EthansMom]

Ours doesn't, but I honestly wouldn't have a problem with it.

First, $10 is a pretty minimal charge. Secondly, it would cut down on the calls that should be dealt with during daytime hours. Thirdly, just because someone chooses to be a Dr. doesn't mean that they should be available to all patients 24 hours a day at no charge... a doctor's time is worth something, even if it's for a phone call (especially when you wake him/her at 2 a.m.).

In our last town, we took the kids a few times to an After Dark Pediatriatric Clinic. They charged an extra $25 per visit, and the extra wasn't covered by insurance. But it sure was nice when the kids waited until 10 p.m. at night to get sick!!!!!!