DeSouza vs Tchabo

[Anonymous]

I'm currently looking to switch doctors (am currently with R&H and no one knows who I am there) and have found great recommendations for both DeSouza and Tchabo on this forum, particularly as I am interested in a low intervention birth if possible. I am only at 16 weeks so feel like I have plenty of time.

The only downsides that concern me are that DeSouza only delivers at Sibley which seems to get terrible reviews (and I can't imagine my husband going home after the baby is born if we don't get a private room) and that Tchabo only delivers at VHC which is a teaching hospital and I am less than thrilled about having any procedures performed by a med student.

For those that have been through it, which of these downsides seems less concerning to you?

[Anonymous]

Can't you simly refuse to consent to a medical student treating you? I was so out of it at VHC I don't remember what I signed, but I'd be surprised if they didn't need your consent first.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth at Sibley last June and had a great experience. The L&D nurses were great and thankfully I had my own room after delivery. I also had great experiences with the lactation experts and really have no complaints. I am expecting #2 in the fall and will be giving birth at Sibley again. The only reason I chose Sibley was because I did not want a teaching hospital (who wants to be woken up more than necessary because a group of students have to look at you at all times of the day?). I was about to change OB because of an insurance change and actually had an appointment scheduled with Dr. DeSouza. However, my old OB ended up accepting my insurance and I had to cancel my appointment. I must say that I was very pleased with the very nice receptionist I spoke with when I made an appointment and Dr. Desouza personally called me prior to the appointment to talk about my medical history. If I ever have to change OB I would definetely go with Desouza. Sorry I have no experience with Tchabo.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at VHC and am delivering there again in 2 months. Honestly, I don't remember the residents/students coming around other than first thing in the morning to take my vitals, check on my incision, etc. There was also a resident assisting my OBGYN during my c-section but it really didn't bother me.

I personally prefer to be at a teaching hospital. I think that the doctors are much more up on new treatments, technologies because there is constant re-education. My doctor is not Dr. Tchabo but I have heard such wonderful things about him from 2 of my friends who delivered with him. I am actually trying for a VBAC and if I feel any hesitation on the part of my OB, I am planning on switching to him. Another wonderful thing about Dr. Tchabo is that he doesn't refuse patients as long as they have been getting pre-natal care.

The facility is great. The rooms are big, the food is decent, L&D nurses are wonderful and the recovery nurses for the most part were very good. I was there for four nights and I think there was only one who kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

If your baby needs to end up in the NICU, they just remodeled it a year ago so that the mother's rooms are directly off the NICU so there is much closer contact with your baby.

[Anonymous]

Delivered at VHC. Never had any residents come by after the birth. There was a resident there assisting during the birth. But she didn't do much.

[Anonymous]

I am a patient of Tchabo and I have delivered twice at VHC. Both time residents actually delivered my sons - I had vaginal births both times. However, Dr. Tchabo was right there in case anything went wrong and was giving them instructions as well. It didn't bother me at all and I had a good experience both times. I have never been to any other hospital to compare, but I was pleased with VHC overall.

[Anonymous]

You can definitely choose at VHC to not have medical students treat you - you sign the paperwork when you are checking in.

We delivered at VHC with Dr. Tchabo - I was very pleased with my experience with him and at the hospital but in retrospect I would not have given my permission for medical students to treat me.

Nothing major happened but I found them very annoying. They would come in after Dr. Tchabo had seen me and go through all the same stuff all over again. The one thing that did really bother me is that after Dr. Tchabo came in and tried to break my water and was unsuccessful, the med students came in and even though I told him he had tried they gave it another go. It bothered me that they wouldn't listen to me (or rather did but then seemed to second guess my doctor) and we found out later it had broken and just wasn't coming out because my daughter's head was plugging the fluid in. End result was she was born with her little head all scratched up from multiple attempts to break my water with that little poker thing.

Oh and one of the med students sat on side of my bed and it collapsed to the floor. Again, not a big deal (much harder on her than me!) but it was an annoyance.

In principle I support teaching hospitals and the idea of training future doctors through hands-on experience but I think the next time around I will decline.

[Anonymous]

What's the difference between medical students and residents? Does the paperwork apply to both?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what the paper applies to. Medical school is 4 years. I am not a doctor but if I remember correctly from my two close friends, they don't have you going on rounds until your third or maybe fourth year. While in med school you are always under the supervision of a resident or attending.

OBGYN residency is then four years after medical school. I can't remember what you are allowed to do during each stage. I think though med-students usually tag around on rounds and can only take vitals. Residents can do a lot more. I know when I was at VHC, before my c-section it was a resident who came in and did my final ultrasound and she was also present in the operating room. I believe she assisted my doctor along with all the nurses. You get quite a crew for a c-section or at least I did.

Hopefully there is a doctor on this board who can explain the difference. I gave permission for them to see me/assist.

[Anonymous]

PP is correct. Med students are in their 3rd and 4th year of medical school. They do not have their MDs yet.

Residents have finished med school and have their MDs and are doing "residencies" in their specialties post-med-school. OBGYN requires a 4 year residency. Residents work under the supervision of an attending physician. They deliver babies, they assist with C-sections; they're just not where the buck stops, ultimately -- the buck stops with the attending.

FWIW, I've been told not to have elective surgery in July because that's when the new residents arrive in hospitals (fresh out of med school), and they are inexperienced.

[Anonymous]

I read on another thread that Sibley is remodeling and will only have private rooms, though I don't know the timeline. So, that may sway your decision.

[Anonymous]

I met Dr. DeSouza today for the first tme and was very impressed. I was having my first visit with a midwife who shares his office on Mondays. She was having a bit of trouble with the sonogram and he came in and was super sweet to both her and me as he helped us navigate the new piece of equipment. I was very impressed. I love the midwife so far but really take it as a strong endorsement that she considers him a good friend and shares office space with him each week. I'm a former R&H patient as well - had a miscarriage last summer and while the clinical treatment was fine, it was not supportive at all - that coupled with the chaos at the offices was enough to convince me not to go back. I have enough anxiety on my own - don't need to get ore at the doctor's office! good luck with your choice!