I think I need a new pediatrician (vent)

[Mickey'snewestfan]

About a year and a half ago we switched back to the pediatrician we saw when my now 11 year old DS was a baby/toddler/preschooler. We loved them when he was little and I was excited to find out they took the insurance for my new job. Since then we've seen them twice -- for his 10 year old visit, and his 11 year old visit. We've had the following interactions:

1) Arrived at his first visit, although I had told them he was a returning patient they hadn't pulled up his file.

2) Put a whole lot of pressure on me to get him some vaccines I wasn't ready for him to have. I believe in vaccinating, but I'm also somewhat cautious. At his 10 year old visit I was very clear that I only wanted the 1 shot that was required for 5th grade. They came in with 4 or 5 vaccines, and insisted they were all required. I asked to see the literature and called the school nurse. The literature specifically said they were reccommended for 11 and up, and the school nurse said he didn't need them, so I said I'd wait until he was the recommended age. They then basically yelled at me for making them waste time, and for "wasting" the vaccines since they'd drawn them up -- not, IMO, my problem.

3) On the form they filled out for school/camp last year they left off both his allergies and his asthma. I didn't notice it and there was a significant issue at camp that would have been avoided had the form been filled out right.

4) At this year's visit they still hadn't pulled up the file. Otherwise the visit was fine.

5) When I went to pick up the forms this year they had left off the asthma/allergies again! This time I knew to check and they fixed it while I waited, with much apologies.

6) Next month my son goes on a 2 night camping trip with school. Unfortunately it's at the height of asthma/allergy season for him. I spoke to a doctor and we made a plan to increase his meds for a few days before, and the duration of the trip. Usually I'd just give him more, but of course the school needs forms to do this, and they need the label on the meds to match the instructions on the forms. So, I asked them to call in new prescriptions with the new directions (e.g. 3 times a day instead of 2). Today I went to pick them up and knew enough to check the labels before I left -- yep, they just called in refills, didn't make any changes (which were the point, I had plenty of refills, the refills just said "once a day" or "twice a day" or whatever he had been on at the time of year when they were initially called in years ago.

So, that's 6 mistakes in 16 months -- during which we've had exactly 2 visits. I'm done, I guess I need to start looking for someone new.

Am I overreacting?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

No. You're not. It seems like there is a problem going on in that office and it's time to find somebody else. Everybody makes mistakes, but that is simply too much.

 

[C.Ann]

People make mistakes, but I think this is a bit much - and especially when your child's health is at stake..

I would start looking for a new pediatrician..

Good luck!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

People make mistakes, but I think this is a bit much - and especially when your child's health is at stake..

I would start looking for a new pediatrician..

Good luck!

That's the thing -- other than the shot issue (my issue wasn't that they drew up the wrong shots, but that when I said "I'm sorry, I only want him to have the one required for school at this time" and "Since the AAP suggests waiting until he's 11 for these, I'd rather not get them this year while he's still 10" they tried to guilt trip me into getting them anyway), the other things are honest mistakes. But their honest mistakes that are getting really old really fast. I used to love this practice, but something has clearly gone down hill. I'll get them to handle this issue, and then I think we're done.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm an RN, you are not over reacting. I would definitely leave that practice.

 

[Hannathy]

If I liked the Dr I wouldn't leave the practice for the administrative help. I can check forms but I can't always find a DR that I like or has a good relationship with my kids.

I pick for the DR I don't care about the office staff.

 

[bumbershoot]

If I liked the Dr I wouldn't leave the practice for the administrative help. I can check forms but I can't always find a DR that I like or has a good relationship with my kids.

I pick for the DR I don't care about the office staff.

The staff are the people you see the most in an office like that. They are the bulk of your experience. If the doctor CARES about his patients, s/he will hire good people to man the office. If s/he doesn't hire good people, that means s/he doesn't care.


I'd look for someone new. Most definitely. Pressure to vaccinate is absolutely ridiculous, and by saying they are "required" they are lying their pants off to you, and that makes me worried about the rest of the things they might tell you.

 

[Mermaid02]

About a year and a half ago we switched back to the pediatrician we saw when my now 11 year old DS was a baby/toddler/preschooler. We loved them when he was little and I was excited to find out they took the insurance for my new job. Since then we've seen them twice -- for his 10 year old visit, and his 11 year old visit. We've had the following interactions:

1) Arrived at his first visit, although I had told them he was a returning patient they hadn't pulled up his file.

2) Put a whole lot of pressure on me to get him some vaccines I wasn't ready for him to have. I believe in vaccinating, but I'm also somewhat cautious. At his 10 year old visit I was very clear that I only wanted the 1 shot that was required for 5th grade. They came in with 4 or 5 vaccines, and insisted they were all required. I asked to see the literature and called the school nurse. The literature specifically said they were reccommended for 11 and up, and the school nurse said he didn't need them, so I said I'd wait until he was the recommended age. They then basically yelled at me for making them waste time, and for "wasting" the vaccines since they'd drawn them up -- not, IMO, my problem.

3) On the form they filled out for school/camp last year they left off both his allergies and his asthma. I didn't notice it and there was a significant issue at camp that would have been avoided had the form been filled out right.

4) At this year's visit they still hadn't pulled up the file. Otherwise the visit was fine.

5) When I went to pick up the forms this year they had left off the asthma/allergies again! This time I knew to check and they fixed it while I waited, with much apologies.

6) Next month my son goes on a 2 night camping trip with school. Unfortunately it's at the height of asthma/allergy season for him. I spoke to a doctor and we made a plan to increase his meds for a few days before, and the duration of the trip. Usually I'd just give him more, but of course the school needs forms to do this, and they need the label on the meds to match the instructions on the forms. So, I asked them to call in new prescriptions with the new directions (e.g. 3 times a day instead of 2). Today I went to pick them up and knew enough to check the labels before I left -- yep, they just called in refills, didn't make any changes (which were the point, I had plenty of refills, the refills just said "once a day" or "twice a day" or whatever he had been on at the time of year when they were initially called in years ago.

So, that's 6 mistakes in 16 months -- during which we've had exactly 2 visits. I'm done, I guess I need to start looking for someone new.

Am I overreacting?

If I liked the Dr I wouldn't leave the practice for the administrative help. I can check forms but I can't always find a DR that I like or has a good relationship with my kids.

I pick for the DR I don't care about the office staff.

Pulling the charts would be an administrative error- but the others are clinical errors.

I would speak with the doctor and tell him your concerns- especially let him know that you felt pressured and were misled by his clinical staff about the vaccines.

Good luck!

 

[luvsJack]

You may not be ready for it yet, but I switched dd to a family doctor when she was 11 and we couldn't be happier! Last year dd got sick. We went several times to the ped. and they decided it was strep but the step test was negative, we went back several times when the antibiotics were not helping. Finally I took her to an afterhours clinic with our family doctor. He did a blood test and she had mono., all of the antibiotics were a waste of time and money because they would not do any good.

Every time we go they talk to her like a young lady not a baby, they are very thorough and always check everything. Found that she needs to take iron tabs and suggested some great vitamins for her. They have more time to talk to us and explain things, suggest things and talk to her about other preteen issues than just what we are there for.


If you feel doubtful at all, start checking into another dr. Some of the problems you have had are with his nurses, not just the office. That is a big red flag as the nurses in a dr. office have a LOT to do with your child's care.

 

[Hannathy]

The staff are the people you see the most in an office like that. They are the bulk of your experience. If the doctor CARES about his patients, s/he will hire good people to man the office. If s/he doesn't hire good people, that means s/he doesn't care.

You are assuming the DR has any say in the office staff. They may work for the corporation just as the staff do and have no say in the hiring or staffing of the office. Where I live almost all the Dr's especially Peds WORK for a Group they do not staff their offices or have any say in how it is run, they are an employee just like everyone else.

If it is a private practice that they own and run then yes what you are saying is true but if they are just an employee then they don't hire the people.

And I still will pick the DR I want over the office staff anyday.