GW is a mess. Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at GW for two previous pregnancies (which ended in miscarriages that were pretty poorly handled by them). I thought the doctors were great, but admin was annoying even then. I switched to Georgetown this time around because I needed a new place mentally (and I’m high risk for me and baby to need NICU so preferred a hospital with a level III NICU). I’m only 28 weeks so can’t speak to delivery, but I’ve been impressed with the ease of getting appointments and getting in touch with my doctors. I’ve been rotating through the OBs, but sticking with the same MFM. Almost everyone I’ve seen has been great.

HI PP. I am so sorry for your losses- and that they were handled poorly! I had several losses at GW that were handled really well (Dr. Lesko, such a super star). As a person who has experienced losses, Georgetown makes me nervous with that connection to the Catholic Church. Have you had any related conversations with your Drs there?

[Anonymous]

No suggestions but feel your pain - I have had a ton of problems trying to get an appointment, and more importantly my 20 week anatomy scan had to be scheduled at another facility because they are short on ultrasound techs. I like my MFM there and I'm worried about moving at this point because I'm considered high risk which might make it more difficult to get taken on as a patient. I'm probably just going to stick it out at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at GW for two previous pregnancies (which ended in miscarriages that were pretty poorly handled by them). I thought the doctors were great, but admin was annoying even then. I switched to Georgetown this time around because I needed a new place mentally (and I’m high risk for me and baby to need NICU so preferred a hospital with a level III NICU). I’m only 28 weeks so can’t speak to delivery, but I’ve been impressed with the ease of getting appointments and getting in touch with my doctors. I’ve been rotating through the OBs, but sticking with the same MFM. Almost everyone I’ve seen has been great.

HI PP. I am so sorry for your losses- and that they were handled poorly! I had several losses at GW that were handled really well (Dr. Lesko, such a super star). As a person who has experienced losses, Georgetown makes me nervous with that connection to the Catholic Church. Have you had any related conversations with your Drs there?

Yeah, I was nervous about this too, and I assume they only offer some limited termination options, but I figured I could always get a second opinion if it came to that. FWIW GW told me I could go to planned parenthood for my 13 week D&C so I figured it couldn’t be worse than that. I didn’t have a direct conversation about this but they’ve been performing all the genetic screenings and even had a full convo about an amnio even though I had no indications for one. I’m also Jewish so I don’t love the religious aspect, but it’s not really been noticeable to us, other than the picture of the pope you walk by in the lobby. I also just can’t emphasis enough how caring all the providers have been. I suspect that’s in part due to my history, but it’s been excellent for my mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As one tip for those reading I had two kids there and always made my appointments while there in person after an appointment and scheduled all of them at once. As many and as far out as they would allow.

The new system doesn't allow this, especially if you are talking ultrasound or stress test.

[Anonymous]

If you still feel like GW offers benefits for your labor and delivery, I would maybe try out some other doctors in the practice and stick with it. The odds of you getting your doc for delivery were unfortunately really low there anyway (since it’s a pretty big practice, and plus there’s all the residents around who you don’t usually meet during appointments). In my last pregnancy (2019-2020), my fav doc explained that the doctors’ philosophies/standard of care are pretty similar, and I did find that to be true (ie, labor is individualized and you’re not on a clock just because water breaks, delayed cord cutting is standard, etc.). You could also ask Lesko for a rec within the practice and try to see them for the majority of appts. going forward.

I don’t have any experience transferring care, so I can’t comment for or against that.

I stayed with GW for my second and am seeing mostly the same one or two doctors, but branching out here and there to meet some new faces before I give birth. I like them all but have found that in seeing different docs, you do kind of have to be more proactive in reminding them of the specifics of your pregnancy and voicing any concerns, etc. I do kind of like having multiple opinions on my issues (I’m somewhat high risk but luckily currently without major complications.)

I agree scheduling is terrible and I’m expecting it to get worse as my appointments get closer together since I’m in the third trimester. Even though the hold time sucks, that works better than trying to schedule directly through the portal, which I only tried once and will never do again. Messaging the doctor directly is the best, but doesn’t always work out (for the reasons you describe above.) Good luck OP!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got home from seeing my OB. It took so long to get an appointment scheduled that I essentially missed a visit. My Dr was shocked looking through all my unanswered WTF messages that hadn't been routed to her. And then told me she is leaving the practice. It's impossible to get appointments- she says that she is basically scheduling all her patients herself because the new system is useless and the burnt out admins have been quitting in record numbers. She said they have shortages in L&D too because of burn out. I.. don't know what to do. I'm a FTM and while I don't need a ton of handholding, I'd like to not be fighting for an appointment and to maybe feel like my healthcare provider takes some responsibility for my care. And now I need a new OB anyway, at 23 weeks. I like that GW has a good record for low medical intervention and a strong NICU if I need it (and I love my OB!). Should I change practices and commit to delivering elsewhere? Should I change OBs and stay at GW/ just see whoever I can get an appointment with? I know GW isn't always popular on the forum, but I'm feeling freaked about leaving, finding a private practice that would take me, etc.

I switched from GW (first baby) to CWC (delivery at Sibley) for my second baby, which was at the height of first covid wave. Both CWC and Sibley were great. GW was awful for appointments and, while my L&D docs were great, the postpartum nursing care was so awful and inadequate I couldn’t face it again. Switch now while you can!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everything has been low risk so far, I would switch to a practice that delivers at Sibley. You almost certainly won't need the NICU and the hospital is much nicer and more peaceful.

There is usually a warning sign baby might need a NICU. Going from perfectly healthy to NICU is relatively rare.

Now somebody is going to post their horror story...

This just isn't true. While prematurity is the most common reason a baby will go to the NICU, there are other reasons from relatively minor to very serious. Please don't give people false assurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everything has been low risk so far, I would switch to a practice that delivers at Sibley. You almost certainly won't need the NICU and the hospital is much nicer and more peaceful.

There is usually a warning sign baby might need a NICU. Going from perfectly healthy to NICU is relatively rare.

Now somebody is going to post their horror story...

This just isn't true. While prematurity is the most common reason a baby will go to the NICU, there are other reasons from relatively minor to very serious. Please don't give people false assurance.

What hogwash is this. Sibley had a level 2 special care nursery and the neonatologists who work in it also work at the level 4 NICU at Georgetown. It is a rare instance that a baby has to be transferred to a hospital with a higher level NICU. Stop promoting unfounded fears. Also, higher level NICU doesn’t mean better quality care. In fact it often means a teaching hospital and that can mean all sorts of downsides.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I just had a shockingly positive experience scheduling upcoming appointments. Was able to reschedule an appointment for this week and schedule my next appointment with no problems. Didn't even have to wait on hold! Is anyone else having similar experiences? Are things getting better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I just had a shockingly positive experience scheduling upcoming appointments. Was able to reschedule an appointment for this week and schedule my next appointment with no problems. Didn't even have to wait on hold! Is anyone else having similar experiences? Are things getting better?

Yeah my six week PP appointment was actually easy, scheduling through checkin and they were even able to handle the fact that I forgot to pick up my forms entirely over phone/internet after the fact! Maybe there’s hope? Glad your scheduling is easing up, OP! Hope everything continues to go smoothly for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I just had a shockingly positive experience scheduling upcoming appointments. Was able to reschedule an appointment for this week and schedule my next appointment with no problems. Didn't even have to wait on hold! Is anyone else having similar experiences? Are things getting better?

Yeah my six week PP appointment was actually easy, scheduling through checkin and they were even able to handle the fact that I forgot to pick up my forms entirely over phone/internet after the fact! Maybe there’s hope? Glad your scheduling is easing up, OP! Hope everything continues to go smoothly for you.

Also had easy time a few days ago. I think finally things are getting back on track.

[Anonymous]

I just called to set up my first trimester appointments and it was a smooth and easy process so far

[Anonymous]

I am so sad to hear Dr. Lesko is leaving! I loved her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so sad to hear Dr. Lesko is leaving! I loved her!

Where is she going? I thought she was in charge of the residency program. Really liked her too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so sad to hear Dr. Lesko is leaving! I loved her!

Where is she going? I thought she was in charge of the residency program. Really liked her too.

Dr. Marko and Dr. Nelson are in charge of the residency program.