Interesting New Policy at My Drs. Office

[lbgraves]

I would be looking for a new pediatrician ASAP! There is no way that would work for us. I was so glad that my OB was in another town an hour away when pregnant with DD. The office in town changed their policy during that time. They decided that they would not allow children in their office at all. They are a baby doctor for pete's sake! They didn't even want you taking your baby to your 4 week check. When I had to make a follow up appoint to get test results for last week I asked if children were allowed if I couldn't get a sitter. They were surprised that I even asked that question. I did find a sitter but it was nice to know that wouldn't have been a problem.

 

[Snowysmom]

It is amazing to me that a pediatrician would come up with this policy. I guess they have no clue how hard it is sometimes to find care for your other children while just bringing the one child to the office. Kids can get sick or injured at the drop of a hat! My kids are older now but I was always bringing both kids to the doctor even if only one was seeing him. He had no problem with it. The doctor may find he loses some patients over this policy.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Never heard of it -- I personally would be looking for a new dr. I know I could not adhere to that -- often times it's after school and you have more than one child with you. And sorry, my kids don't gt sick on a schedule. Who has access to a last minute babysitter?????????????????????

I guess I feel I am buying a "service" from a dr and this one wouldn't suit me at all.

 

[disykat]

Wow!!!

. She wants me to bring the neighbors in with me I think! .

I had to laugh at this because it's not as much of a joke as you might think. My Dad is a retired pediatrician. He never minded siblings, but it drove him crazy when everyone brought the whole neighborhood in. This was before seatbelt laws and he said his office was teaming with people who evidently invited the neighbors since they were going to town. For one sick child, he'd have 3 adults and 8 kids. He always wanted his waiting room to be fun (I loved going there as a kid - he had a huge chalk board, kid sized tables and chairs, puzzles, and two of the silly, carnival mirrors), but ended up having to take all the toys out so people wouldn't come in droves.

I agree, I often have to take my other child with me when one is sick - but I don't invite the neighbors!

 

[golfgal]

Our old ped sort of had this policy BUT kids could come and wait in the waiting room while the parent and the child with the appointment saw the dr AND they had Child Life specialist on staff, they had college degrees in Child Life and they would play with the kids that were waiting. They had a craft center, board games, a climbing thing, play medical equipment, a couple video games, a quite corner for watching movies and a bunch of other things for the kids to do. We would go to appointments 1/2 hour early because the kids loved to play. It was REALLY, REALLY nice for the actual appointments.

Now, if they didn't have all this, it would have been a royal pain in the rear for me when the kids were little and it probably would have encouraged me to find another dr. I can see where they are coming from though because my kids have been guilty of distracting me and or the doctor during appointments and it is irritating.

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

I've been in peds for lots of years and never heard this. I would tell the doc I am finding another doc and exactly why. That is pretty absurd to think that a parent can just find someone to watch the other one(s). If that doc is having issues with certain clients that have numerous rowdy kids, then he/she should tell that family that they need to find someone to watch their other kids as he/she feels that the parents aren't able to concentrate on what they are being told.

We are paying customers and this doc must have a private practice because anywhere else customer service is drilled into our head day and night!

 

[becker1123]

Totally unacceptable policy IMHO. I would switch doctors immediately and would tell them why. Although I try not to take all three of my kids to the Ped's office when we have to go, many times I have to. At one time we lived 900 miles away from our families and I didn't have anyone to watch the kids during the day. If you are a SAHM it's very hard to find a babysitter during the day, because most of the sitters are in school, and other mom's can't always accommodate because of preschool pick-ups, ballet lessons, etc. I even had to take the two older ones to the OB when I was pregnant with #3. It was horrible! Believe me, if I could have found someone to stay with them, or someplace for them to go, I would have. I have some funny (in retrospect) stories of those OB visits, but it was a nightmare.

 

[zaja]

I'd DEFINITELY be finding another Doctor. That seems pretty unreasonable to me.

I had a Dentist try tell me that I couldn't be in the room with my 3 year old for his check-up. I thought that was absolutely ridiculous. I told him that I couldn't do that, he's not old enough. The Doc. brought me back to his office and said that was his policy, I said that's fine I'll have to go somewhere else. He tried to tell me the only place that would accept a 'toddler' was city X, (about 90 miles away from me) or city Y, (about 60 miles away). I said I'd stay right here in this city thanks. I found plenty that would gladly take him as a patient.

Most Doctor's are really good, but a few can get a real God complex sometimes.

 

[LK03]

If I were you then I'd always create a question about the healthy child so he/she could be there as well when the sick one is being seen by the doctor. Oh and the receptionist telling you it's because most people don't understand the Doctor's instructions when the other child is there, well, I don't understand what my Doctor jumbles at me and I usually go alone! If he's not an asian doctor he's a quick paced english speaking and I have no idea what I'm to do when I get home. Maybe they should write out instructions, seems logical to me.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I'd ask them if they'd be willing to run out to your car every few minutes to make sure your other child was ok in the car because you can't bring them in with you.

Our peds office is great when the others tag along, if they get bored they can go out front and play, half the time I find them behind the desk coloring with the office staff and having a great time.

Seriously I'd write a letter telling them that their new policy is making it very difficult for you to remain with their office and that you hope that they'll revisit it before you have to find a new doctor for your kids.

 

[DWDreams]

I've never heard of such a policy and it seems a bit extreme, but my guess is something significant must have happened to force them to create such a policy -- a fall from the table as Mom is distracted by sibling or sibling gets into the sharps bin while Mom tending to the patient sibling. If someone got hurt, and especially if a complaint or lawsuit followed, I can totally see a practice coming up with this sort of policy. It would make things difficult though, I'd be upset about it.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I normally try to make every possible effort to leave one kid behind when I go to the Ped. I like to be able to pay full attention to the child with the appt, it is hard to amuse both in the office and I like to be able to talk with the doc with out the distraction. (and why risk exposure if not nessary.) Then again if both kids are sick..............

I have had times when the nurse has told me on the phone while making the appt, please keep the baby home if there is any way, too many germs here today and we don't want any unessassry exposure for her. (a request in the interest of my own child.)

I think the policy is insane though. I would be telling the office I will make every attempt to (as I normally do,) but if it isn't possible I will be brining the other children in, or finding another Doc. I don't think I would leave right away because really, I don't think this policy will work. I would complain though. (and possible look around for a new place just in case.)

 

[robertsmom]

I've never heard of such a policy and it seems a bit extreme, but my guess is something significant must have happened to force them to create such a policy -- a fall from the table as Mom is distracted by sibling or sibling gets into the sharps bin while Mom tending to the patient sibling. If someone got hurt, and especially if a complaint or lawsuit followed, I can totally see a practice coming up with this sort of policy. It would make things difficult though, I'd be upset about it.

I can kind of see your point, but IMO, if a sharps container is left in a place where a child could get into it, the doctor's policy about extra kids wouldn't matter because I'd be out of there ASAP.

 

[PaulaSue]

Wow, what a bunch of crap that is!

So, now you have to find a sitter to take your kid to the dr? Ridiculous!! Are they going to pay for the sitter?

I'm a SAHM. I don't really have a babysitter. Both sets of grandparents are in town, though. But, what if they weren't available? I couldn't get my kid seen? Total BS!

DITTO

 

[Esmerelda]

yea...I could just see us in the emergency room...."oh, I'm sorry you've brought little Billy with you and Suzie has the broken arm....you'll just have to leave now since you've brought more than one child....."

(rolling eyes here...)

personally, its time for a new pediatrician....that policy is a joke to any mother who has more than one child...as most of us do.


time to move on mom...
Esmerelda

 

[DisneyPhD]

yea...I could just see us in the emergency room...."oh, I'm sorry you've brought little Billy with you and Suzie has the broken arm....you'll just have to leave now since you've brought more than one child....."

(rolling eyes here...)

personally, its time for a new pediatrician....that policy is a joke to any mother who has more than one child...as most of us do.


time to move on mom...
Esmerelda

Actually I have heard from a friend of mine that if you bring 2 kids into the E.R (and have 2 adults) they will ask you to wait with the other child in the waiting room. Then again this guy has really bad luck with situation in general (hense the need for the e.r. that night.)

Once again I have been lucky to have someone to wacth my kids or the other one when needing the e.r.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Our doctors have had this policy for some time (4 years or more). I only remember what I read in the paper about a doctor beeing sued due to Billy being seen and Tommy (not real names) hurt himself on the table. The suit was settled out of court for a mere 300,000.00

Even the dentists offices are following this policy. Unfortunately the parents who parent are going to suffer the consequences along with the parents who don't parent.

 

[momof2inPA]

Doesn't your pediatrician have children of his own? I bet this is a recommendation from the latest convention the doctor attended to reduce liability. Ridiculous.

I would ignore the policy and bring whomever I had to, unless they pushed the issue, then I would find another doctor.

My kids have been to the ER plenty of times (unfortunately), and it's never been a problem taking the sibling with the sick one.

 

[jaycns]

I bet it's one of two thing motivating the doctor....

1. A few families who bring kids who are out of control or cause trouble or make it impossible for the doctor to do their job **in which case the doctor needs to grow a backbone and handle THAT family with the warning that this behavior is not allowed and it either needs to stop, they need to be the family who has to find a sitter or they need to find a new doctor**

OR

2. Someone did get hurt (fall off a table, stick their finger in a drawer and pinch it, etc). Or maybe a doctor was distracted by screaming siblings and missed a diagnosis. This makes doctors reactionary (heck not just doctors...most any business). The only way to handle this is to show them that it is unresonable and you will not tolerate it and that the bottom line will be much worse if they inact this policy then take their chances. Money talks in cases like these. If enough patients won't put up with it and leave...the policy will reverse itself.

If it were my doctor I would leave and write a letter to the office explaining my reasons. If it were my children's doctor, I would leave, write the letter and be very vocal in my community as to why I had left. To me, that is NOT a family friendly way to act and your doctor (any doctor but especially your child's doctor) should be supportive of and very much encouraging of your family.

All of that said, if you do bring your kids with you...they should not act like they are at a playground and they certainly should not become disruptive to the purpose of the visit! NOT that the OP's kids or any other poster's kids act like this...just that anybody who brings their children should make sure the kids know what behavior is expected and make sure they enforce it.

 

[va32h]

Lots of interesting responses! I also agree that the policy is not very practical.

I said to the receptionist "so are you becoming a specialist in Only Children or something?" - only half-joking.

Changing doctors would be a big decision for me - the pool of pediatricians who accept our insurance is not large in this area, and finding a doctor that all three of them are comfortable with wasn't easy.

I'm not sure if this matters to any of your responses or not, but we are military dependents, fully covered under Tricare, so we don't actually pay for anything when we see the doctor. So in a way, it is kind of a trade-off - free medical care, but you have to find your own childcare.

I'm not sure if any specific incident led to the policy, but the reasons given to the patients (on a little handout were)

*Less chance of spreading illness (although if your sibling is sick, you are exposed to the illness at home anyway, right?)
*Less crowding in the waiting area
*Better patient care, from both parent and doctor