Had it with Pediatrics of Arlington

[Anonymous]

Our kid is 2 and we're about to have another. We've now seen every doctor. There's maybe 2 we like who we think treat us with respect and not like generic human beings who are there to receive their precious Bright Futures printouts and empty public health platitudes. The one we had today lectured her way down the checklist instead of asking questions and jumped to conclusions several times. Do we start over with a new practice, or just pretend the only docs there are the ones we like? Is being treated like shit inevitable?

[Anonymous]

I don't go there, but there are plenty of pediatrics practices around that you shouldn't have to be miserable somewhere.

[Anonymous]

We like ALL Pediatrics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is 2 and we're about to have another. We've now seen every doctor. There's maybe 2 we like who we think treat us with respect and not like generic human beings who are there to receive their precious Bright Futures printouts and empty public health platitudes. The one we had today lectured her way down the checklist instead of asking questions and jumped to conclusions several times. Do we start over with a new practice, or just pretend the only docs there are the ones we like? Is being treated like shit inevitable?

LEAVE!!!! You will be so happy you did.

I had the same experience as you. I was so scolded and berated for probably almost 15 minutes for my 15 month old still being on the bottle that I think I got PTSD. "YOU are the mom. No one else will do it for you. You need to step up to the plate. The child is a baby. She's not going to ask you for a cup. No one wants to change. You being the responsible parent have to lead it on. (on and on and on)" Dr. Goldman was the worst. Dr. Pease being the least annoying. Every other appointment was full of lectures and I dreaded every appointment. I saw every doctor there too.

We left, went to another practice that doesn't even have a website nor talked of online but has a thriving practice. It was just the closest one that took our insurance and it turned out to be great. The doctors are sooo sweet and caring. The nurses too. I never feel like I'm being talked down to or lectured or scolded. Every issue is something we face together, although there are no issues.

I think they got really popular for some reason, can barely handle the load of patients, doctors can do whatever they want, have whatever attitude they want because they have so many children flocking to them.

I am so glad I left. I wish another parent had told me that pediatrician visits could be different. I was a first time parent and I didn't know any better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is 2 and we're about to have another. We've now seen every doctor. There's maybe 2 we like who we think treat us with respect and not like generic human beings who are there to receive their precious Bright Futures printouts and empty public health platitudes. The one we had today lectured her way down the checklist instead of asking questions and jumped to conclusions several times. Do we start over with a new practice, or just pretend the only docs there are the ones we like? Is being treated like shit inevitable?

LEAVE!!!! You will be so happy you did.

I had the same experience as you. I was so scolded and berated for probably almost 15 minutes for my 15 month old still being on the bottle that I think I got PTSD. "YOU are the mom. No one else will do it for you. You need to step up to the plate. The child is a baby. She's not going to ask you for a cup. No one wants to change. You being the responsible parent have to lead it on. (on and on and on)" Dr. Goldman was the worst. Dr. Pease being the least annoying. Every other appointment was full of lectures and I dreaded every appointment. I saw every doctor there too.

We left, went to another practice that doesn't even have a website nor talked of online but has a thriving practice. It was just the closest one that took our insurance and it turned out to be great. The doctors are sooo sweet and caring. The nurses too. I never feel like I'm being talked down to or lectured or scolded. Every issue is something we face together, although there are no issues.

I think they got really popular for some reason, can barely handle the load of patients, doctors can do whatever they want, have whatever attitude they want because they have so many children flocking to them.

I am so glad I left. I wish another parent had told me that pediatrician visits could be different. I was a first time parent and I didn't know any better.

OP here. Please tell me the name!

we also like Pease, and my husband likes Goldman--I find him only OK. And the new doc is good.

Today's doc, one of the older women, was shocked I was BFing at 2. She didn't chastise me for it at least, but she did try and tell me we should switch to 2% because obesity is a problem in America. Meanwhile, our kid's ribs are sticking out, her weight percentile is way below her height percentile, and she's running around in circles while the adults talk bc she can't sit still.

[Anonymous]

This conversation reminds me of an article on KevinMD the other day. The first comment on the article makes me think of what you are talking about. She believes that the competitive training at top institutions leaves you with doctors who are intolerant and lack empathy.

"I guess the question is this: does that level of intensity and competitiveness throughout training make for a good doctor? I am sure those trainees turn into physicians who know a lot. But do they also turn into physicians who have internalized an unusual amount of aggression that later in their practice becomes redirected towards their patients in the form of unconsciously dismissive attitudes towards patient complaints and concerns?

I think that there is a possibility that our training, by setting expectations that we be heroically tough, causes us to expect the same of our patients, without our even realizing it. Perhaps this is a factor in the well-documented "empathy slide" that we know medical students and residents experience during their training.

In an even bigger context, does this focus in our training also tend to turn us into people who are somewhat difficult to deal with in the larger world, because we are judgmental, critical and don't know how to play nicely with others? I wondered about that a few years ago while reading in the media about a CHOP fellow who became involved in an altercation in her home with an exterminator, with tragic results."

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2015/09/how-call-rooms-reflect-the-personality-of-residency-programs.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We like ALL Pediatrics

We hated ALL. They were rude at the front desk, and we felt like a "number." They made us wait over an hour with our 2 day old baby. I left crying.

We now go to Murphy, Staats, and Daggle. They are in Burke. It's a small practice. No website, no online database. Good old fashioned paper files and walls littered with pictures of the tee ball team they sponsor. It's like a pediatrician out of a Mr Rogers episode. We love it.

[Anonymous]

I liked Premier Primary care when we lived in Arlington, now we are with Murphy, Staats and Daggle in Burke. There are good pediatricians out there, OP. You don't need to stay, switch now. Find a nearby one that takes your insurance and go there. If they are also terrible, then find another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked Premier Primary care when we lived in Arlington, now we are with Murphy, Staats and Daggle in Burke. There are good pediatricians out there, OP. You don't need to stay, switch now. Find a nearby one that takes your insurance and go there. If they are also terrible, then find another.

PP here. HA! Perhaps you are the one who recommended me to them.

[Anonymous]

We love McLean Pediatric Associates. No website. Recently moved to a new big office.

No website shows that they are not trying very hard to get new patients because they get enough new patients through word of mouth and being able to keep their existing patients. Their Yelp reviews are good too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is 2 and we're about to have another. We've now seen every doctor. There's maybe 2 we like who we think treat us with respect and not like generic human beings who are there to receive their precious Bright Futures printouts and empty public health platitudes. The one we had today lectured her way down the checklist instead of asking questions and jumped to conclusions several times. Do we start over with a new practice, or just pretend the only docs there are the ones we like? Is being treated like shit inevitable?

OMG those terrible, worthless handouts that look like they've been Xeroxed a thousand times...we really only like Dr. Pease, so we're in the same boat. If you saw the older female doctor that I'm thinking of today, I totally hear you. It's like paint by numbers medical care for her and she has all the warmth of a cold shoulder.

[Anonymous]

I've mentioned this practice in other threads: Virginia Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine on Lee Highway. We see Dr. Rhue, but have seen the other doctors and like them as well. Front desk answers the phone quickly, never had a problem making a same day sick visit, making well visits, nurses are great, parking is free and easy.

If you don't like your practice, definitely look into others. Especially with a new baby, you know you'll be there a ton in the next couple years and you should feel like your kids' doctor is on your side.

[Anonymous]

The other problem with Pediatrics of Arlington is their antiquated scheduling system for such a large practice. If you call too early, they haven't opened the calendar yet (paper calendar in front of the front desk.) I think they only book up to 2 months ahead? If you call too late, you have to wait a month or two for your well appointment. They do not schedule you on your way out for the next well appointment. This leads to everyone calling at least once if not twice or three+ times to make a simple well appointment. The front desk is absolutely overwhelmed and apparently they have a phone system problem so my calls get busy signal. You have to strategize about when to call at non-peak times to just to get them to answer the phone and hope you called not too early and not too late. All that for a well checkup.

Oh and if you got a time after 10am, forget about hassle free parking. You'll be circling for 20 minutes to get the smallest space in the world. The good news is that the front office is used to this and won't care if you are 30 minutes late because you were circling the parking garage. The only people who will care is your crying baby and you.

The thought of Dr. Goldman giving me a lecture because when he walked in, there was one goldfish on the floor just makes my blood boil. I was waiting in the exam room with a sick 1 year old for 1 hour when he finally walked in. What am I supposed to do to entertain a sick 1 year old for an hour in a 5 feet space with nothing but a couple books probably full of germs? I did what I had to do, which is to make the best of snacks I had in my bag. He walked in and proceeded to not just ask me not to give snacks to my DS while waiting next time but also tell me about how throughout the course of the day, it will get stepped on and pieces of crumbs end up all over the floor, and it is not the nurses job to pick up the crumbs and vacuum in the middle of the day. How does he know that I wasn't going to pick up before leaving like I always do? Like OP said, there is a lot of jumping to conclusions in this place.

I have a lot of anger about this place, as you can tell.

I think some people are happy about this place, for what its worth.

[Anonymous]

The worst is when Dr. Goldman, in the middle of lecturing you, asks you a question "Who is the grown up here?" and you have to answer "I am," and he continues on his lecture about how you have failed or will fail.

OP asks "Is being treated like shit inevitable?" Being treated like shit is what goes on at this practice and no, it is not inevitable. There are many other practices that treat families well.

[Anonymous]

I don't love this practice either but doubt things would be much better elsewhere. I like Pease and Goldman (I find his lectures humorous). I refuse to see Dr. Kim. Ever. I think they are fine for what they do. I trust them to assess growth and minor illnesses. Anything more significant and I'm taking my child to a specialist anyway. We have been to some amazing specialists and I think that is what is important - gastro, eye, surgeon. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see the ped's role as that significant after the first couple of years. I do really like the nurse that answers the phone.