Pediatrician question... WWYD? (LONG)

I selected my pediatric practice for my daughter based on my prenatal consult a year ago with one of the 5 doctors in the group I go to. I liked him a lot - still do - and they are affiliated with my birthing hospital as well as the hospital closest to my home (2 different hospitals).

In the last year as I have had pre-scheduled well visits where I can choose who I see, as well as of course those not-pre-scheduled and emergency visits where you take who has time to see you pretty much. I expect to like some docs better than others in a large group like this, but one doctor there is so horrible I dread calling in emergencies for fear she is on call and usually - that's when she IS on call.

To be more specific about what I don't like I will say that she is VERY condescending to me. No matter what I do/ask, she will make a sarcastic remark and/or basically tell me that I'm wrong in a nasty way. If I don't call right away she tells me I should have and if I do she tells acts like "why are you bothering me with this". I asked her very recently when DD spiked a midnight fever if she should go to the hospital and her response was "why would you go to the hospital". I'm sorry, this is my first baby and she's just shy of a year. It's not like I can ask the baby what is hurting. I had good reason to have concern about swine flu b/c my DD was exposed to someone who went to Mexico in the last few weeks. It's not that and I kind of knew that, but would anyone here take that chance if suddenly your baby vomitted and ran over 102 temp? I just feel that a good doc is the one you can call and feel okay about calling for these things. I'm not saying call at midnight for a diaper rash or a sneeze, but a fever? I try my best not to work with this doc, but it's impossible to avoid her altogether. Meanwhile I did see the doc I like today and he said that if anything comes up feel FREE to call and told me one of the other docs i like is on call. This isn't the first time I've had run ins with this doc. She basically congratulated me when I lost my job back in December b/c she hates daycare so much. So I told her then... well, I hope you don't like your co-pay either b/c we won't be affording that much longer either!!! I know some of this is petty - but to me there is a right way and a wrong way to talk to people and it's not like they do something so "special" there. Working in healthcare I know docs are stressed these days, but there's still a level of customer care and bedside manner - espeically with parents - that I feel should be upheld. I try to do my best by my DD, I know I'm not perfect, but I don't think the doctor's response or bullying if you will, should go into my decision to call and answering service in what my instinct calls a bad situation if not an outright emergency. I don't like feeling judged by her and none of the other docs in that practice make me feel this way. Am I wrong? Mind you - I have no family to help me either. I have 2 sets of uninvolved grandparents... neither would appreciate a call in the middle of the night and the one I may be able to call, would tell me to call the doctor.

In a nutshell, a friend at work's mother is a pediatrician not far from my home and affiliated with the hospital near my home. I know his mom sees some "high profile" people on LI. He offered to get me in with his mom and told me I'll never have to wait and all this. However, I don't think she's affiliated with my birthing hospital and I will be having baby #2 in July. I'm thinking of staying with my current group (although I dread seeing the doc I hate when I'm in the hospital with #2 - which will happen b/c I'll be there for 4 days) until after the 1 week check up. Would you do that or would you switch right away to the other group even though they won't be the group checking the baby out initially... in fact then I won't have a doctor's name to give the hospital. Thoughts?

Re: Pediatrician question... WWYD? (LONG)

If you want to change doctors- do it. My girls' PED isn't affiliated with my hospital and didn't see them until their first well visit. Don't let that be a reason to continue to feel undermined by that PED.

Message edited 5/2/2009 8:59:36 PM.

Re: Pediatrician question... WWYD? (LONG)

My first ped. wasn't affiliated with my hospital either. I just had the drs. on staff see DS and then brought DS to my ped 2 days after we came home.