NP's and Family MD's instead of Pediatrician?

[Bichon Barb]

Just got a letter in the mail. My sons' (10 and 12) pediatrician is retiring. This is the second one. The first one retired some years ago, so I just switched the boys to another physician in the office.

I don't want to do that again. We don't know any of the other doctors in the office, and the office is located downtown, which is kind of a pain in the butt. It's also a very popular office, so we usually have to sit in the waiting room for a little too long.

There are three options--another pediatrician, a family doctor or a nurse practioner. We do have two well-respected NP's nearby. I'm curious--do any of you use a internist/family doctor/NP instead of a pediatrician?

Both of our kids are very healthy (knock on wood) and usually see the doctor for well check and the occasional case of strep or conjunctivitis, etc.

Would love to hear your thoughts--especially from the nurses out there.

TIA

 

[horseshowmom]

I always used a pediatrician when DD was young, but one day, she was absolutely too sick to make the 75 minute trip into the office (we live way out), so I made an appt. with the local family doctor. I was extremely pleased with her, and we all changed to her.

A few years ago, she moved into the city too, so while we still go to her for anything that I think might be major, we now see a NP and have been very pleased with her as well.

As you said, most of our visits are minor stuff anyway (sinus infections, stomach virus, etc.). Instead of it being an all day trip now, it's only a couple of hours at the most.

It works for us.

 

[Marseeya]

My kids' ped retired a year ago, and I really didn't want to switch doctors, so I started taking them to my GP (He's an osteopath). It's worked out really well, and I know that if there's ever something he feels he can't handle with them, he'll send them to a specialist right away.

I really miss the kids' ped! His office phone rang right into his home, so you could call him any time of the day or night. If it seemed serious, he'd meet you at the hospital right away, or if not he'd set up an appointment for that day. Not many other docs like that around here.

 

[tkd lisa]

We went with a family practice doctor about 5 years ago. Once the kids were over 6, it just seemed a better fit to have one doctor for the whole family. And the ones we've used have had nurse practioners associated with them so we can work in quick visits for emergencies.

 

[jennyl772003]

My son has gone to family Drs for most of his life. His first Dr was in family practice and was one of the best Dr's I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Our current Dr is also family practice. It is nice that the whole family can see the same Dr.

Quite often if DS for example gets bronchitis, I will take him in. Then a week later DH gets the same hacking cough. Our Dr. will just phone in a script for DH since he knows it is going to be the same thing.

 

[CEDmom]

Our DD goes to our family doctor and has been since we brought her home from China. We love him and the office staff. Any time we've needed an emergency appt we've gotten in. He takes the time to listen to us and has a great relationship with our DD. It does help that he did a stint as a Ped and an OB/GYN. For us it's like 1 stop shopping . There have been numerous occasions were all of us have been sick and going to 1 doctor is just so much easier.

 

[HaleyB]

I have been thinking about changing to an Internist for the kids. I really like the Ped but he moved his office and now it is a pain to get to. Plus he joined a practice and I do not like the staff at all. They are very impersonal and unhelpful.

My Internist only sees 12 and over, so I want to switch the kids to her partner that sees 8 and up. My only concern is that the Ped knew all the Ped specialists to refer us to... so I am on the fence. My daughter is very healthy, knock on wood, but my son not so much.

 

[aprincessmom]

I have used a family practitioner (who also has a nurse practitioner) since before DD was born and I wouldn't trade them for anything! They are so great and it's really terrific having them know the family history for all of us so they can make connections. My FP came and saw DD in the hospital everyday after her birth...none of the other moms on my floor saw their peds, just the hospital doc. My FP was there that morning at 7:30 to give her a once over and came by everyday after that. He administered all her infant shots and tests as well.

It's easy to get appointments with them, they are available by phone whenever I need and I feel so comfortable with both the doc and the NP. Having said that, we rarely see them because DD is pretty healthy. She's only seen them once a year now for the past 3 for physicals and that's it. The last time we went, the doc said he was going to schedule an appointment "just because" because he never sees her or me

I think if you have the chance to go the FP/NP route, you should give it a chance.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have known very competent nurse practitioners and I have known as many NPs that shouldn't be given the level of responsibility that they have had. One of the issues that was apparant to me is that some of them "didn't know what they didn't know". That is more important that not knowing in the first place. If you know you don't know, you will ask. If you don't know that you don't know, you will proceed as if you do. Some serious mistakes that come to mind are powerful topical steroids on shingles, (thought it was dermatitis). Giving a booster shot to an adult that never had an initial tetanus vaccination, (the pt. died). Not referring someone for rabies after being scratched by the front paw of a raccoon, not recognizing the early signs of bacterial menningitis. Now I know that those are situations that most people never experience but if you are an exception, you would want someone who would recognize those conditions.
With regard to FPs, I think most of them can handle most pediatric problems but what if your child were the exception and developed an unusual illness that only an experienced pediatrician woulld recognize? I would stick with the peds for a while longer.

 

[staci]

Ds went to a ped in our last town but we moved.

The ped office here is really big (think huge waiting room full of sick kids). i didnt like the idea of that.

I started going back to my old family doctor when I found out I was pregnant, and have really liked the office, so moved ds's records there. they will see the new baby too.

i love that the waiting room is never busy, and when it is, there are usualyl one or two adults, or maybe one kid, but not a room full of childhood illnesses.

 

[Bob Slydell]

When my boys are old enough (and at that point, it's likely that their ped will be retiring), I wouldn't hesitate to switch them over to our internist, who's DW and my PCP. 10 and 12 should be old enough that they'd do fine at an internist.

 

[LiteBrite]

DD (now 18) had a fabulous pediatrician when she was a baby, but then we moved and couldn't find one we liked. We settled on a family doctor that we all felt comfortable with. He had a NP in his office who we saw frequently and established a good relationship/rapport with. The family doctor ended up in drug rehab and quit his practice, we followed the NP to her new office and we've been with her ever since (10 years now). She's been wonderful with all of us, and doesn't hesitate to send us to specialists if we ever need them. She knows us like family, we can call her on her cell phone day or night. I'm very satisfied, and feel like we got lucky when we got to know her.

 

[cristbaby]

I am a firm believer of babies being treated by a pediatrician. Probably up to the age of 4 or 5. (did child care for 20 years) Once they reach school age I think it is safe to go to the family Dr. Sometimes it's better because the family Dr. gets to know the entire family and is aware of any underlying illness.

 

[disykat]

When my oldest hit 13 (our other son was is 10), I switched both of them over to our Family Practice Doctor. It will be more convenient to have us all at the same Doctor if we get sick at the same time.

 

[mrsv98]

We go to a Family Doc, DD has never had a strictly ped. We like the practice and are generally able to see the one doc we like the best. However, I am happy with seeing just about any of them. It is really nice to have just one doc. On fact, my dad sees him and he took care of my DSis and DNeph before they moved to Denver.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm thinking about taking them to mine and my husband's internist, but he isn't near our home either--he's close to our office. He does a good job at treating my hypothyroidism and DH's blood pressure issues, but maybe the way to go is to find a new doctor for all four of us who is near our home. And there are two medical centers within two miles.