Switching OB's because of the hospital

[Anonymous]

I am currently seeing Dr Engel at Foxhall and very happy with him. The downside is that he delivers only at Sibley and I am not sure if that's where I want to deliver. I plan to do a tour in the new year and was wondering if it would be really inappropriate to switch OB's if I indeed decide that Sibley is not the hospital for me.
When would you change OB's? Go to your own as long as possible and only switch a couple of weeks before?

I would really appreciate your thoughts on this since I have no idea on how this is done?

thanx!

[Anonymous]

i think an Ob is more important than the hospital.

[Anonymous]

I personally think that both the OB and hospital are important. And I would switch the sooner, the better. It doesn't hurt to go consult with other OBs and say you are interested in switching so that you can interview one, two or three before deciding on a new practice. Good luck, I am also looking into switching to a high risk OB practice due to pg complications, and I am 26.5 weeks, so I know it is a bit intimidating to do.

[Anonymous]

I also think your ob is more important than your hospital. But if you're lukewarm about your ob, then switch. I would do it sooner rather than later. The only reason to stay as long as possible, is if you love your ob. And then I can't imagine switching just b/c of the hospital.

[Anonymous]

I switched in my first trimester because my former OB delivered only at Washington Hospital Center and I needed something closer to Northern Virginia. When I told her practice that I was switching for that purpose, they didn't mind at all and were actually very supportive. If you're ok with delivering at WHC, I highly recommend the Chua, Whitaker, Melancon practice in Foggy Bottom.

I did it sooner rather than later for a few reasons:

1. It takes a little time to find the right 'new' OB, so you may want to give yourself that leeway.

2. In the event that your new OB is not working out for any reason, you still have time to switch for a second time (it happens).

3. You need time to get comfortable with the new OB's practice, the new hospital environment etc. before you're ready to deliver.

4. Finally, most OBs are fully booked and it may take you awhile to get on their schedules as a new patient. This is perhaps the most important.

I would suggest finding a new OB and getting on their schedule soon. It may be a month or two out until your new appointment anyway. Meanwhile, continue to see your original OB. When the time for your new appointment gets closer, have your old OB's office fax your medical records to your new OB, or have them send it to you.

It's pretty simple actually, and apparently, people switch OB's all the time for various reasons. Ultimately, it is about *your* comfort level.

I was more interested in having a hospital that was close to home and work (I'm delivering in early Feb, so snow is an issue) so losing my old OB was hard but not heartbreaking. My new OB is *at* the hospital and is therefore a little colder and more matter-of-fact than the old one. However, I am very comfortable with the hospital (GU) and that's really what matters more to me in the end.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

It all depends--will your dr. definitely be there or is he/she part of a larger practice?

I'm not familiar with Engel but I did deliver at Sibley and really loved the entire stay at the hospital.

[maynie]

PP makes a very good point about OB's being fully booked. I had to switch at 6 months for insurance reasons and the new one couldn't see me for a month. It ended up being a two month wait. I was VERY worried not seeing a doctor for that long so late into my pregnancy.
I actually choose a doctor that delivered at the hospital I wanted, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

Giving birth is such a huge event that you should absolutely feel comfortable with every aspect of it - your OB, the hospital, etc. If you don't like the hospital, by all means switch. You can continue to see your old OB while you shop around for a new doctor. You may want to call your insurance and find out if there will be a financial implication (if that's at all important to you). Most OBs will charge a global fee after you deliver, so it will be going to your new dr, but your old one would presumably still want to be reimbursed for the prenatal care that he provided.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I wouldn't let yourself get scared off of going to Sibley based on some of the posts on here. I delivered there with Dr. Engel last year and everything was fine - I actually had some WONDERFUL labor AND post-partum nurses. I have a lot of family members in the health care field and understand the basics of standards of care. I really don't think delivering at another hospital is going to make much difference in what experience you have - delivering at home or at a birth center would make a difference, but not switching hospitals. If you deliver at a hospital, I think that the most important factors in having a good experience are: 1) making sure you're an informed patient and 2) making sure you have someone with you who will advocate on your behalf.

[Anonymous]

I switched at 30 wks because I wanted to switch hospitals. But I switched *to* Sibley. The reason was two-fold:

(1) I found out at 30 wks that my OB (who I liked very much) only delivered on Tuesdays. Don't ask how it took
30 wks. for this piece of information to come up but it took me by surprise. So I "gave up" my OB who I liked but with the realiziation that she probably wasn't going to deliver me anyway.

(2) My original OB was at a teaching hospital. I wasn't crazy about this mainly because I'd heard there could be lots of
spectators and extra visits during recovery, but I had made peace with it. But at 30 wk. visit I said to my doctor that if a scalpel had to touch my body, either episiotomy or c-section, I wanted her (or whatever other doctor) to do it and not the student. She said "no go" and that was when I freaked and switched OBs to go a non-teaching hosptial. I know they need to learn, but it was my first baby and I was petrified enough and my mother to this day insists she was sliced up by a resident during delivery so I'd heard *that* story one too many times.

I did wait until I had found someone else willing to take me and had initial consultation with that person before I told my old doctor.

It took me about a month to pull the trigger. I thought I was just being a "freak" and kept trying to talk myself out of it. After all, the teaching hospital is a great hospital and I knew that. But finally I decided even if I was indulging the freakiness and being completely irrational what was the harm? In the end, it turned out to be a great decision. I found a wonderful doctor who delivers almost all of her patients and I turned out to be the kind of patient who needed the hand-holding approach. She has delivered me twice now.

So I am now a big proponent of doing whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar situation. However, my OB switched practices and is no longer delivering at Sibley. I loved Sibley so much that I was debating switching back to her old practice so I could delver there again. I decided to stay with my doctor, I figured 10 months with a great OB was more important than a couple of days in a hospital. Especially, since I haven't even checked out the hospital yet (INOVA-Alexandria).
With my first pregnancy we moved to the area when I was about 33 weeks and many doctors won't take you that late in your pregnancy, so I warn you not to wait too long switching if that is what you decide to do.
I highly recommend Sibley!

[Anonymous]

I respectfully disagree with PP -- I think Sibley has major problems:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/dcurbanmom/index.php?module=phpwsbb&PHPWSBB_MAN_OP=view&PHPWS_MAN_ITEMS[]=39129