My Son's Pediatrician
By guss2000
@guss2000 (2232)
United States
January 25, 2008 1:21pm CST
My son has had the same pediatrician since December 2006. Between now and then, he probably seen the other 2 doctors in the practive a few times. We know them all there, and we LOVE all of the nurses.
Well, starting next month his pediatrician (who has been on maternity leave since December) will be starting her own practice.
I think it's cool that she is doing that, because she IS a great doctor.
However, my son has major issues (tracheostomy, g-tube, preemie, chronic lung disease, previously failure to thrive, and has major upcoming surgery) and I'm not sure I should change offices.
Her new office will ONLY have her there. No back up doctor from what I'm being told-- and I don't want to have to use the E.R. every time something is wrong with my son.
If I stay at the old office-- they will have the other 2 doctors that i like (but not as close too) and they are getting a new nurse practioner which will also help. In addition, I will still have ALL of the same nurses that know my son so well, and are really nice. With that said, I think that making an appointment would be easier as well. There will be a back up doc there, and a nurse and if my son needs something it seems like it would be done faster. I can't be messing around with my son's health since he's not a 'normal' kid.
What would you do?
I've been saying from the start, that I would switch offices, but now that Im down to just having his records sweeped to the new office, I just don't know what to do.
If you had a child with a lot of issues, and their pediatrician was moving, would you move too-- or stay where you stil know the other docs and might have a better chance in getting an appointment?
If I stay, I feel like I'm somehow betraying my old doctor-- and really I like her too.
Is this supposed to be this hard?
2 responses
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
25 Jan 08
Yes, it is always this hard because we have doubts. You love your son and want to make sure you do the absolute best you can possibly do for him. This is not a decision to be taken lightly.
If it were me, I would stick with the same practice. If the pediatrician had someone on call for when she was off duty, I may go with her. But you make a very important point about going to the ER. The ER at your hospital may be very good, but most are dependent on the doctors who are there at the time you are there. You can never predict who will be on duty. With the practice that has doctors on call, you know who you are getting, and more importantly, they know your son.
I believe consistency is very important with children, and having a caregiver who is familiar will make a big difference. Since your son has health problems, it is likely he will need medical attention at some point after hours, so it is important that the pediatrician's office have someone on call at all times.
I am actually quite surprised that a pediatrician would practice alone. You never know when children will become ill, and I think most parents would hesitate to bring their child to a doctor who is not available after regular business hours.
1 person likes this
@guss2000 (2232)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Thank you. From what the old office said, she won't have anybody in her new office for a bit. They didn't sound too optimisitc about it either. I need to make sure I have someone there or on call if needed for my son since his medical conditions.
I know that the office (the nurses mainly) will do anything for me at the drop of the hat (prescription requests, referral requests). I've been sitting at the doctor's offices before and they were so nice to get info over to me fast so I didn't have to wait forever and a day. And the good thing is, everyone in there knows me by my first name and as soon as we walk in they say Hi to me and my son.
Right now, I think I've decided to stay at the old office and change to one of the other docs.
@heatherhedyjon (122)
• United States
25 Jan 08
Stay where you are comfortable for your son. He is and should be your main and only concern in this. Your ped will understand, as I'm sure she would do what is best for her own child in a similiar situation
1 person likes this
