Need new ob/gyn (sorry, realize this is well covered territory)

[Anonymous]

but despite reading many posts, I'm still frustrated. Here's the situation. I've been going to reiter and hill for the past 8 years and while the doctors seem competent, I've had numerous problems with front office, billing, etc and it's very impersonal. Now that we've decided we're going to try for a baby, I'm looking for a new practice that
1) takes BCBS PPO
2) is metro convenient (which, sadly, Foxhall is not)
3) has good doctors who will be responsive to my concerns, etc.

The doctors I"ve heard good things about are either at Foxhall, which is inconvenient w/o a car; or they don't *seem* to take insurance for new patients (Alan Birnkrant, Russell Bridges, although they are listed in my BCBS directory).

David Powers, also highly recommended, doesn't seem to be delivering babies anymore.

Nancy Sanders, highly recommended by my friend, also doesn't take insurance.

This leaves me with Capital women's care, which has mixed reviews and I may end up feeling like I left Reiter and Hill for the same story.

Bottom line: anyone have a great doctor in the metro-accessible DC area who takes BCBS???? It shouldn't be this hard!

thanks!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Foxhall is well covered by bus services, if this is an option that you may consider. There is a line from downtown / friendship heights directions, and there is a bus that goes to tenley town metro. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I left Reiter and Hill for GW associates. I left because they were totally non responsive during a crisis. Doctor Larsen and his team at GW are awesome. There are several women doctors as well. I loved that place. They are in the physians building across the street rom the hospital and affiliated with GW.

[Anonymous]

I left Reiter Hill after #1 for lots of reasons, and am now with Midwifery Care Associates for #2. I also have BCBS PPO. If midwives aren't for you, they are affiliated (in same practice) with the OB/GYNs Simmonds and Simmonds. They delivery at Shady Grove. They have offices at White Flint Mall, which is near a Metro stop, and I think some buses go right to the mall. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

I was a new patient with Dr. Bridges as of August and have had no problems with him taking BCBS PPO.

I will say, however, that I do not think he is as fabulous and wonderful as many people seem to (and am actually thinking of switching practices now at 31 weeks). Someone just recommended Virginia Thompson to me, who's in the same building at 2440 M St NW. I know nothing else about her, though.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for all the responses.

oddly, the GW associates are not listed in my BCBS handbook, so they may not participate.

I read the other threads concerning Dr Bridges, and may continue to look around, although I realize that not every doctor will be universally loved.

ALthough spring valley is far for me, I may just deal with busses, etc and check out the Foxhall practice, along with Malcolm De Souza, who seems to be well received here. After all, a little inconvenience is, in the end, less important than having a good doctor I trust.

this is a great board--discovered it by accident while looking up doctor reviews.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Virginia Thompson (at 24th & M) delivered my first DD. I switched to Foxhall when my company dropped BC/BS which is the only thing Dr. Thompson takes. She was great. She's not the most warm/fuzzy type -- but she's very professional, calm and competent. I had some complications with my first and she was excellent. I highly recommend her.

[Anonymous]

you might want to search Dr. Thompson....I think there have been some pretty strong reactions to her recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for all the responses.

oddly, the GW associates are not listed in my BCBS handbook, so they may not participate.

I read the other threads concerning Dr Bridges, and may continue to look around, although I realize that not every doctor will be universally loved.

ALthough spring valley is far for me, I may just deal with busses, etc and check out the Foxhall practice, along with Malcolm De Souza, who seems to be well received here. After all, a little inconvenience is, in the end, less important than having a good doctor I trust.

this is a great board--discovered it by accident while looking up doctor reviews.

De Souza is my OB. He's the best doctor (OB or otherwise) I have ever had. I haven't delivered with him yet but you can see positive feedback on his delivery style as well if you search the forum. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Just a cautionary word on Foxhall - I left that practice for the same reason you left R & H - too impersonal, a few sloppy nurses, some bad experiences. There are some fabulous docs there (love Maro Sarafian and Sharon Malone), but the front offoce was a pain. Plus they had a doc on staff when I was still going there who was not board certified (read their bios carefully). I switched to Sanders & Schaffel, and it's like night and day.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Thompson misdiagnosed a serious reproductive disease in me for several years. Multiple surgeries (with a different competent doc) later, I am still ticked that I ever allowed myself to be treated by that woman. Perhaps she is more competent when it comes to the Obstetrics, but I would never recommend her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just a cautionary word on Foxhall - I left that practice for the same reason you left R & H - too impersonal, a few sloppy nurses, some bad experiences. There are some fabulous docs there (love Maro Sarafian and Sharon Malone), but the front offoce was a pain. Plus they had a doc on staff when I was still going there who was not board certified (read their bios carefully). I switched to Sanders & Schaffel, and it's like night and day.

I had a similar experience at Foxhall. I felt I was just a number in a factory and did not want to risk having a non-certified doctor deliver my baby. Be careful with Foxhall.

[Anonymous]

FWIW , I really like Dr. Bridges and he takes my insurance, BCBS...I haven't paid a thing to see him ( am 37 weeks). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Ladies, your discussion has been so helpful. I'm in the same situation. I've been going to Dr. Schaffel for 10 years and she's an amazing doctor - but she doesn't take insurance. I'm planning to start a family this year and don't want to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. I prefer female doctors but since some of the posts gave Dr. Bridges a thumbs up - and he gets good reviews on www.rateMDs.com - I'm going to give him a shot. I did give Dr. Bridges' office a call and they do take new patients with Care First BCBS PPO so give them a call!

Another good website if you're searching for doctors is www.vitals.com - it gives you info about the schools the doctors attend (I know this doesn't always correlate with the quality of doctor but when you're starting from scratch it's a good start) and how many years they have been practicing.

[Anonymous]

OP again here. Thanks for all the input. Way helpful. I searched previous posts and based on all that have made an appt with Dr. Desouza. It's far, but I'll see how it goes. If that is not the right fit, I'll try Dr. Bridges. I was put off the latter by a few posts suggesting Bridges may be a bit less open to natural birth, but it's hard to tell what one's own experience is going to be and it sounds like lots of women have had fantastic experiences with both.