Kidz Kare pediatricians questions

Hi everyone! I'm 35 weeks pregnant and looking for a pediatrician. Several people have recommended Kidz Kare in Great Neck, and I was hoping to get some input from those who know the practice:

1. When you have the baby, does your particular pediatrician go to the hospital for the initial check up, or is it whoever is on call from the practice?
2. Would you recommend signing up with a particular pediatrician initially (if so, who?) or just joining the as a practice and choosing later once we've seen all of them?
3. Any pediatrician recommendations, or just pros / cons about the practice in general?

Thanks so much in advance! First time mom, so this is all very new!

Re: Kidz Kare pediatricians questions

My kids go there. Hopefully you scheduled an interview to go see the practice for yourself and ask questions. In answer to your questions:

1. At the hospital, it is whoever is on call. While I was there, someone came every day (but it was a different dr.).

2. That's hard to say. We signed up with Dr. Lefkowitz (who we had our interview with). We love her and she has little kids of her own. Of course by now we have seen them all. But in the beginning you go so much when the baby is small, I loved that she knew who we were right away and she wouldn't have to get 'caught up' with reading the chart. They are all nice. I also like Dr. Millman but don't see her too much. I think her hours must not coincide mostly with when we go.

3. I liked that there was a separate sick/well area. The fish tank is cool (you will appreciate that when the baby gets older and stares at it. I have never had a problem getting an appointment for sick or well visit. I love that the lab is on site and we don't have to go elsewhere for bloodwork. As a working mom, I don't have time to be running around a million places. They are open 7 days a week (of course limited hours on the weekend-I think just for sick visits). I have brought my kids in on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and other last minute sick appts and have never had an issue.

Good luck! If you have any other questions, feel free to FM me.

Re: Kidz Kare pediatricians questions

I went to them and left after a year. I loved dr Lefkowitz, however they were extremely unorganized. I had two appts that when I arrived they told me I wasn't scheduled (both time were for routine well visits). I showed them my appt card to prove I had an appt and they agreed to see me. Once was after a long wait and another time I was seen quickly but with another doctor.
There was also one time I showed up 12 minutes late - a mix of traffic and just not being able to get my act together with my 8 week old...I was told they couldn't see me that day and I had to reschedule.

When I called about possibly needing a sick visit, I was told they will have someone call me back. And they did...right before they closed for the night when they told me I could come in the next morning if I wanted to. Obviously my daughter was feeling better or I would have been more persistent calling and following up. My new ped I call up and ask for a sick visit and they get me in ASAP.

As much as I likes dr Lefkowitz I had to leave (not to mention when I left it took them 3 times to get my new pediatrician all oft daughters records). I also moved which made me leaving a bit easier. But having all of these bad experiences before my daughter was 1yr old was just not acceptable to me.

Eta - we left the practice in January 2014....so maybe things have changed since then

Message edited 5/26/2015 10:38:43 PM.

Re: Kidz Kare pediatricians questions

Thank you both! Very helpful to get your feedback.