Need OB

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I went through the old posts (as best I could) and thought it would be ok to raise this question. I should have paid more attention but my doctor - Dr. Bonn - does not see people after week 13. A doctor with whom he shares his office, Dr. Birkcrant (sp?), will see patients, but the receptionist told me she does not accept insurance for OB patients. Can't have that. I really like Dr. Bonn and his bedside manner and it would be great to transfer to a doctor with a similar outlook. It doesn't matter if the doctor is solo, small group, or in-hospital, although reading the posts on GUH and the wait times make that group less appealing. I endure the hour plus wait times for their nuerology practice and don't relish having to waste that kind of time. I live in DC and am looking for GW or GUH affiliates (no Sibley). Does anyone have any recommendations to pass along? Thank you very much for your assistance. It's still early (not due until November) but considering it's been highly recommended that I start putting my name on daycare wait lists, figured this can't be too far behind.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I recently delivered with GW and am having a hard time recommending them. I had a terrible time getting appointments; they are really overbooked - during the end of my pregnancy when I was supposed to be going every one or two weeks, I couldn't get in for three+ weeks!?! I waited an average of one to two hours at each appointment before even being called to see my doctor. And, when I did see her, I was told she was busy because of all of the new patients. I though they shouldn't have new patients when they don't have time to take care of their current patients. Once I was there almost 4 hours in order to see my doctor for less than 10 minutes.

When I went into GW hospital after my water broke, my GW MFA doctor was on duty, but, she never ever came to see me before her shift ended. A nurse told me they probably didn't even tell her I was there even though I had asked for her and I even called on my way to the hospital and told them who my doctor was and they said she was there and would see me. During my prenatal visits, I saw many different OBGyns in the MFA practice because I wanted to get to know all of them, knowing any of them could be the one there for the delivery and because I couldn't always get an appointment with my doctor. When I delivered, I ended up with a doctor at the hospital who was not part of MFA and my baby was delivered by a resident with complications. If I could, I would do many things differently.

I will say I felt like the staff at MFA and the nurses at both MFA and the hosp. are very good and I received good care. On another point, keep in mind what going to a teaching hospital really means. For the most part, I was fine with many people coming in and asking me the same thing and even numerous people taking turns feeling inside me to see how dilated I was every two hours. What was bad was that when things got rough and it was evident I had complications, they still had these med students and residents checking me over and over again when I hurt and there were so many people involved (I counted over 10 people around me during delivery) no one seemed to be in charge. Make sure you or your partner do take charge in a way by saying what you want or don't want when it comes to how many people check you, how often and who is going to do the delivery. I was told it would be the attending and at the last minute the resident stepped in.

on a side note - I have heard great things about Sibley from four friends who have delivered there.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Aargh! PP sounds so much like my MFA experience thus far - at 17 weeks. Including a GYN appt. right before getting pregnant, 2 OB appts. I have been to, and an upcoming one, they have canceled on me 2 of the 4 times. My waits for the 3 appts. I have been to have ranged from 30 mins. to 60 mins. each. It's challenging to get people on the phone and they could use some manners and training when you do. Ummmm.... I am just not at all impressed and hoping to find a convenient and professional option. At this point, I missed all of the 1st trimester screening due to lack of info from the OB and will be having my 16 week appt. at 18.5 weeks due to them being unable to schedule a 16 week 4 weeks out from my 12 week. In fact, they couldn't schedule a 20 week 5 or 6 weeks ahead, so it's on the books for 21 weeks. Fingers crossed I either find a place that can accommodate me or that MFA doesn't cancel on me... again.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Alan Birnkrant was my ob. Yes, he did not take my insurance. But all that meant was that I had to pay first and get reimbursed from my insurance company afterwards. The office staff were very helpful with filing the claims for me. All in all, I had a great experience with Dr. Birnkrant.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at GW in August with a doctor from the MFA practice and my experience couldn't have been more different than the PPs. I felt like I received absolutely fantastic care and really personalized attention, and I never had a problem with appointments or wait times. The front desk is a little cool at first, but even they were friendly to me eventually. I recommend the doctors I know at MFA (Macri, Larsen, and Chahine) enthusiastically and without reservation.

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I initially tried getting an appointment with dr. larsen at GW. I called and the staffer answering the phone (after a long hold) told me that he wouldn't see me sooner than 12 weeks. I called back a week or so later and was told that it's not the policy, they simply didn't have room for me before then. So I reluctantly set the appointment for January. Then I asked if I could at least go in and meet with the doctor because I didn't want to get a new OB and then feel that we didn't mesh. No dice -- they don't do consultations or appointments. So I actually looked on this website and a few others and found a doctor that the fewest people were really complaining about. I ended up with Dr. De Souza, who was actually the first person my GP suggested. He accepts my insurance, has a very competent, friendly staff, and was able to see me the week after I'd set up an appointment. He actually called me a few days in advance of my appointment to find out if I had any questions. His bedside manner is excellent. He has one other doctor that he partners with, which is Dr. Footer. I talked to him about my preferences for a natural birth and to move around during labor if that's still what I want to do when the time comes, and he was very supportive. He's equally supportive of pain medication measures -- he really does seem to give a lot of consideration to what is best for each woman on a case by case basis. He talked with me about the circumstances under which he would "intervene" during labor, and made me so comfortable about his philosophy that I'm already a lot less frightened of labor than I was beforehand (at least, feeling like I've found the right doctor is one concern I no longer have).

Okay, so after all that...I should say he has priveleges at Sibley. I know it's kind of irritating when you post something and know you don't want something and people try to change your mind, but I still wanted to give you all of that information just in case you might consider the benefits of an OB like DeSouza offset dealing with Sibley. FWIW, I too have heard mixed things about Sibley and do think that those delivering there will need to be a strong self-advocate, have a strong advocate in the husband, or even consider a doula. But it is fair to mention that I know people who have delivered at GW and have had experiences similar to previous posters, where the doctors are harried and the residents are learning, so you get extra vaginal checkups, etc. I know someone first hand who kicked all the med students and residents out, only to have them come back in again and again to poke at her. But I should say this same person recommended Dr. Larsen so she must not have felt it was that bad.

Also, when I called to cancel my appointment with dr. Larson's office, I called for three or four days straight and the appointments line kept me on hold for a solid 20 minutes or so before giving me a message that "the number I'm dialing is not taking messages, please try my call again later, if this is a medical emergency dial 911." I finally got through by pressing the automated number for "if you are a physician calling." The call vaccum experience made me pretty glad I didn't go with the doctors at GW; imagine going through that when trying to make an appointment every month... I think their reputations are great, but it seems like the office itself is scattered and understaffed at the least and incompetent at the worst.

One last point, if you really do prefer GW, one thing to note is that most of the previous posters seem to have the most issues with doctors on staff at the hospital. I don't know if they give priveleges to private OB's, but if so perhaps this would sidestep some of the melee at the hospital.

Good luck to you with whatever doctor and hospital you choose!