Staff Pediatrician at Sibley after birth?

[Anonymous]

I have tried searching this site, but cannot find anything about the Sibley staff pediatricians who examine newborns after delivery.

I live in VA but am delivering at Sibley within the next month (my pediatrician does not have hospital privileges there). Who are the pediatricians who examine at Sibley? Does anyone know their names or have any 411 on them?

Am I better off trying to find a DC pediatrician who can come to the hospital, or should I just stick with the Sibley staffers and then go to my regular pediatrician afterward?

I've read so many horror stories about Sibley lately that I am scared about the quality of care, not just for me, but for my newborn, too. Seems like everyone has C-Sections (which i really don't want) or is induced; terrible nurses; dirty unsafe; non-private rooms, etc! What happened to just plain ol labor? I'm starting to regret switching from Gtown to practice that delivers at Sibley.

Are the staff peds really that bad? Is there anyone in particular we should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I can't tell you about the staff pediatrician, as we had our own ped lined up. However, I delivered at Sibley and had a good experience. I'd suggest that you call your pediatrician and ask for his/her opinion about the Sibley staff pediatrician. Your OB should also be able to provide you with some info.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to let you know about my recent experience at Sibley since you are feeling nervous.

I just delivered at Sibley 2.5 weeks ago when I was only 33 weeks along. My water broke 5 days before my delivery and they kept me on hospital bed rest for 5 days until my temperature went up and they decided to deliver because I was getting an infection. My doctor, Dr. Newman from Capital Women's Care, was monitoring me all week and he performed the c-section (my son was breech), and I really feel like I, along with my son, received superb care. All of the nurses were so nice, and the special care nursery doctors and nurses were very nurturing and very competent. Unfortunately after I was home for a few days I started getting very high fevers and Dr. Newman put me back in the hospital to treat my infection with IV antibiotics. He worked closely with me and other specialists as well as the doctors at the special care nursery to ensure that I could still see my son (after it was deemed safe with fevers). My son came home on Friday after spending 2 weeks in the special care nursery and I cannot express how confident I felt with his care and how thankful my husband and I are for all the doctors and staff at Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Again, I am not sure about the staff pediatricians but Sibley is a wonderful place to deliver. Yes the facility itself is old but the nursing staff is extraordinary and very responsive and caring. Frankly the best doctors are usually on staff there so I would assume that the pediatricians are very good. Don't worry. It will all be great.

[Anonymous]

I just delivered at sibley last week.

The staff pediatrician was great. Don't remember his name but he was terrific.

I too felt great about my experience -- the L and D nurses were amazing, I delivered a 9 lb + baby and they worked me through 2+ hours of pushing. The recovery folks were generally good -- some outstanding nurses, some so-so. All in all, I was happy with the experience.

[Anonymous]

I was in the same situation you are in a few years back at VHC. Our ped in Alexandria didn't have privledges there, but my awesome OB was out of VHC. I was told at the birthing class that the head of pediatrics at the hospital would care for and check out our DD. You may want to just call the hospital and get the name of who your DC will see if your ped doesn't have privledges.

I have one caution - the head of peds who saw out DD was not a preferred provider on our insurance. I recieved a bill for a few hundred dollars from his office after we got home. I called his office and told them that I had spoken to the hospital and they said I didn't have a choice but to see him and he takes whatever our ins pays. His office argued with me and even said they'd give me a discount if I paid over the phone via cc right then. I said no and called the hospital patient advocate. She called me right back and said that he was NOT supposed to bill for more than the ins covered and they would be talking to him. I immediately got another call from the peds office manager saying that I didn't owe anything.

So, lesson learned, just check with the hospital on what the dr's agreement is with the hospital regarding patients that they see due to your circumstances. I'm so glad I called and got a clarification and didn't just pay it!

We are expecting baby #2 in a few months and I am tempted to call the hospital and see if the said dr is there. His care seemed excellent, but what they were doing with the billing, I believe, was illegal since that was not what his contract outlined with the hospital.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at Sibley and had a good experience. I did not have a c-section and did have a private room. I generally found the nurses to be good and very helpful, especially the L&D nurses, who gave me encouragement through 3 hours of pushing. My daughter was seen by the staff pediatricians (two of them) b/c our ped does not have privileges at Sibley. They seemed totally fine. That being said, my daughter didn't have any health issues, so I didn't interact with them for more than a few quick minutes. We just made an appointment with our normal ped for the day after we left the hospital.

[Anonymous]

BEWARE! We loved Sibley but despised the house pediatricians. One in particular, Dr. Mehta, nit picked our son to pieces. Being new parents, very anxious, we were quite upset, to the point where I was in tears for 4 days. When we saw our pediatrician a week later, he told us our son was completely normal and had nothing to worry about. He's now a healthy, smart and funny 2 year old.

My neurologist also delivered at Sibley and had a similar experience with Dr. Mehta. She requested he be fired.

[Anonymous]

we had a great experience with the staff pediatrician, i can't remember his name, but i believe he was african if that helps. in fact, i liked him so much i tried to find him after to be our regular pediatrician but i couldn't remember his name then either! anyway, i wouldn't worry too much..it's only a couple of days and then you can take the baby to your regular doc.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

I believe you might be thinking of Dr. Abubakar.

[Anonymous]

I recommend having the staff peds as there will be a physican in house 24/7 that the baby will have access to.
If you use an outside pediatrician, the nurses will have to call back and forth for things. If there is a concern during
off hours, the house neonatologist can see Sibley babies at night when the pediatricians are not there.

[Anonymous]

OP Here -- thank you all for your thoughtful suggestions and responses!!!! I appreciate the feedback and names of the Sibley staff pediatricians (so I can plan in advance...guess i am a bit of a research know-what-to-expect type). Also, the advice one poster gave about confirming insurance info was very useful...I am a fed employee on BC/BS, so I don't think insurance will be an issue, but it's good to confirm just in case. I cannot believe your insurance provider was billing you for a service that you had no choice in...does seem unethical.

I guess it's common (and convenient) to use the staff peds rather than having to wait for your pediatrician to arrive, coordinate, etc. I just hope I get a good staffer!

As far as nitpicking the baby...I will be well prepared for that to happen, bc I feel like I have been nit picked to death throughout my pregnancy (my OBs are very VERY conservative and alarmist about everything). So, that won't be much of a surprise. I haven't enjoyed a moment of this pregnancy due to overreaction of my doctors on every single little thing, so I'm used to the microscope at this point.

Thanks to all for the helpful and positive feedback...it's refreshing to hear after so many negatives! I feel a little better now.