Switch from KidzDocs to Children's Medical Associates in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to go to Kidz Docs and we loved Dr. Shen. There was another dr there that we saw once during a sick visit that was sooo bad. I would avoid her at all costs. I'll see if I can find her name. She told me son who was 2 yrs old at the time and had a 104 fever to stop acting like a baby and drink the Motrin they gave him. Needless to say, her bedside manner left a lot to be desired.

I'd bet good money that was Dr. Fleming. She is SOOO not my favorite.

We are still with Kidz Docs only because it is so close to home. I like Dr. Russell and Thomson. I would never see Dr. Fleming again for any reason and I avoid Dr. Larkin but I know several parents who like her.

What is the matter with you? All the previous posters did a good job of saying there were some people they did not like, but didn't mention them by name. You did. Now, because you had a bad experience, you post a name of someone, who people are probably going to stay away from. You should state your name on here if you want to state someone's name in a not so polite manner. There is no accountability on an anonymous forum and it can be hurtful to the doctor you named. No one else did this. They showed some class.

[Anonymous]

Other parents I've talked to had similar experiences w/ her so I am confident she wasn't just having a bad day. Why should parents waste their time and money on drs who have no idea how to treat others?

[Anonymous]

Check out the post on the Special Needs Boards. They recommend (or not) drs and practices all the time. I have a very limited budget and don't want to waste my time taking off of work and my money on drs that more than one person has said are no good. That is why you ask for recs from friends, neighbors, etc. As we all know, not all drs have good bedside manner. If that is important to you, you would want to steer clear of the ones who just don't have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other parents I've talked to had similar experiences w/ her so I am confident she wasn't just having a bad day. Why should parents waste their time and money on drs who have no idea how to treat others?

New poster here. I've seen that doctor once and my experience was okay. I did find her cold and distant considering she was working with kids. My baby was under 6 months at the time so I was still new to the world of pediatricians, so I thought maybe she was having a bad day. I talked with my neighbor about the doctor since her baby is about the same age. She said she had the same experience. The doctor wasn't flat out rude, but she also thought she was a little cold for being a pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, we've been at Kidz Docs for 3 years and won't see the aforementioned doctor. There are some other, very good doctors at Kidz Docs such that I don't need to tolerate a ped with such poor manners.

[Anonymous]

I always saw Dr. Shen for scheduled appts and really liked her. But you kind of take what you can get when your child is sick (and you are just happy they can fit you in at all!). Next time, even if my child was sick, I was ask NOT to see Dr. Foster. I have talked to a few friends and some colleagues and everyone has had the same reaction to her- sometimes rude, snippy and at her very best, distant w/ pretty poor people skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always saw Dr. Shen for scheduled appts and really liked her. But you kind of take what you can get when your child is sick (and you are just happy they can fit you in at all!). Next time, even if my child was sick, I was ask NOT to see Dr. Foster. I have talked to a few friends and some colleagues and everyone has had the same reaction to her- sometimes rude, snippy and at her very best, distant w/ pretty poor people skills.

Fleming, not Foster.

[Anonymous]

Ouch-- I actually really like Dr. Fleming. I don't usually choose her for well-visits since she doesn't have as much practical advice to give. (The other Docs, I think, are all parents themselves so I feel like they have better answers to questions like: "Why can't I get my daughter to give up the bottle?") That said, I am so thankful to Dr. Fleming for catching my daughter's urinary tract infection that spread to her kidneys after the first Dr. we saw missed it. She then took the time to answer all my questions and worked with the specialists at the hospital to make sure that my daughter got the necessary tests right away-- not because she needed the tests urgently, but for my peace of mind. She went above and beyond for us during a hard time, and I am eternally grateful. And, my daughter, who is only 14 months, loves her! Sure, the other docs may be a bit more effusive with "kid speak" but my daughter lets her look down her throat and in her ears with less fuss than the others. I don't know why, but she does.

I like all the Drs. there except the one that missed my daughter's UTI... she also gave me bad advice regarding breastfeeding in the beginning. I just can't trust her, even though I know she's competent and has a great bedside manner. That's the problem with the people who work with the most precious entity in your life-- they only get one chance to screw it up. But, it just goes to show, that everyone has different preferences.

[Anonymous]

I take my 10 mo. old to CMA & couldn't be happier. I've chosen to rotate through dr.'s so I could meet them all & have been happy with all of them. The nurse practitioners spend a lot of time with you and the doctors are all friendly and competent. They even have phone hours in the morning when you can talk to a dr. I've always been called back promptly and have never waited more than 10 min. max in the waiting room.

[Anonymous]

I have never had a bad experience with Kidz Docs and have been going there since my son was brought home from the hospital. I think it is top notch. I have also seen Dr Fleming on numerous occasions and have never had a problem with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out the post on the Special Needs Boards. They recommend (or not) drs and practices all the time. I have a very limited budget and don't want to waste my time taking off of work and my money on drs that more than one person has said are no good. That is why you ask for recs from friends, neighbors, etc. As we all know, not all drs have good bedside manner. If that is important to you, you would want to steer clear of the ones who just don't have it.

Exactly, you ask for recs from friends, neighbors, etc...people with names that you know and trust. Not an anonymous board with no accountability. For all anyone knows, the negative posts about the Dr. above could all have been written by the same person who has it in for the doctor. And the positive posts could be written by the same doctors trying to drum up business.

[Anonymous]

FWIW - I love Dr. Fleming at Kidz Docs. I think she is very conservative and very caring. She takes the time to get to know her patients and though she is young, I find her to be very knowledgable. Her bedside manner works fine for me. She does seem to come a bit from the "school of hard knox," so that definitely does not appeal to all. To each their own. She is a very good medical doctor in my opinion and my husband, mom, sister and I happen to like her personality just fine.

[Anonymous]

I have been very happy with the care my son has received at Kidzdocs. I find the nurse practioners to be extremely caring and thorough. As a first time mom, I am incredibly thankful for the supportive and practical advice I have received from all of the doctors (Dr. Flemming included) about caring for my son and adjusting to my new role as a parent.