Switching Pediatricians?
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Anonymous
| I am on the fence about switching pediatricians. We are at a larger group (5+ docs) and our favorite, main doctor left. We haven't really found another doctor in the group that we like. Has anyone switched pediatricians when your kids were preschool/elementary age? Was it a huge hassle? Our children have some slightly unusual issues that require specialists and coordination (which we handle ourselves) but each time we meet with the doctors for well visits they seem to not have read the file (these are issues that would jump out at the beginning of a file). For purposes of well child visits, I'd like a doctor that has even a cursory understanding of my children as a whole (medically) even if that is just a quick glance at a file. Some of the remaining doctors at the practice don't seem to really care about children or even seem to particularly like children (which is fine-I get burnt out at my job too, but I'd rather go elsewhere then). Is this maybe just a grass is greener situation? We are due with a new child soon and that is another reason I'm rethinking our current practice. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| I'd switch. It seems like you've given good reasons to switch and no good reasons to stay. The new pediatrician will have you sign a release to request your medical records. |
Anonymous
| I'd switch. I moved to a solo practitioner precisely to get more continuity of care and someone who always knew my child's background even on sick visits. |
Anonymous
| I'm at a smaller practice (3 doctors) where my child usually sees one doctor in particular. He remembers my child and his general ailments. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for the input! |
Anonymous
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I'd switch. Our ped remembers random stuff about our kids - not sure if she notes it, or just has a phenomenal memory.
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Anonymous
| We’re in a practice with maybe six doctors. I just schedule everything far enough in advance so that I can see the same doctor for each appointment time t. I tend to use urgent care for sick appointments since it costs me the same and I don’t have to take off work. |
Anonymous
| Um -- forget remembering the details -- I'd switch if the drs. don't like kids?! Do you go to drs. who don't like you??! |
Anonymous
| I have switched twice due to moving- it’s really not that big of a deal. |
Anonymous
| We go to a practice of 3 doctors, and all three of them are familiar with our kids and their various health issues. It is definitely worth changing pediatricians - it sounds like you have very good reason to. We were in a similar situation as you, then switched to this practice and I was shocked at how much better it was. I realized I'd been putting up with mediocre care for too long! |
Anonymous
| Kids were 6.5 and 3 when we switched. Definitely the right decision. |
Anonymous
| We switched because our first practice had one doctor in particular who was a complete jerk. Kids didn't know the difference - no regrets from my perspective. The new place is farther away but I do feel like the doctor doesn't just dismiss my concerns. |
Anonymous
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I've switched. Primarily because we had moved and I was pregnant with #2 and didn't want to travel back 25 miles. But in the back of my mind was how insulting the older, founder of the practice was to me once.
It wasn't a hassle at all. |
Anonymous
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Gah, I've switched so many times, and am probably going to do the same again here shortly given that our preferred doc in the practice is moving. If you're on top of child's health history and the practice you're moving to is reasonably competent, its fine.
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