Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Looking for Doctor- 9 weeks along
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
aisha314
Member Offline
Member Offline
| I'm 9 weeks and I've recently had to change doctors due to location. I wish I could stay with my doctor but it's so out of the way for me to get to. I live and work in downtown DC, I work near Daily Grill at 19th & M and would like to find a doctor close to work or home. I've done a little research and I wanted to reach out to see if anyone had any recommendations. Any comments will help. Thanks in advance. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Richard Footer at 23rd & M - but he only delivers at Holy Cross. |
Anonymous
| Reiter and Hill's DC office is right near where you work. Around 20th and M. (unless something has changed in the past 2 years...) They deliver at Sibley. They are a very large practice, so if you're looking for a small intimate practice, they are not for you. But, very competent doctors, you will have top-notch medical care with them. |
Anonymous
| Reiter & Hill is actually at 19th b/t L and M. Search the forum - lots posted about them (esp. expectant moms). I've been very happy with them but can understand why they're not for everyone. |
Anonymous
| Agree with the rec for Reiter Hill. There's lots of drama all over this board about them (yes, they are a large practice and don't do a lot of hand-holding), but you'll note that there's never any debate that they are top-notch docs. I've been very happy with them. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Robert Footer at Foxhall (New Mexico Ave) Not exactly super close but I can't say enough wonderful things about him. And it's not a huge group practice..just him! |
Anonymous
|
What kind of doc are you looking for? Someone supportive of natural birth? Someone experienced with high risk patients? Someone that delivers at a particular hospital? Soft and sweet or straight to the point kind of bedside manner?
|
Anonymous
| Drs. Sanders and Schaffel are in the same building as Reiter & Hill's DC practice - 19th btw. L and M. They are absolutely wonderful - with very, very attentive and personalized care. The kicker is that they don't take insurance, so your insurance will only reimburse at the out-of-network rate. You will find many opinions in the forum about them. |
aisha314
Member Offline
Member Offline
|
I'm looking to deliver at either GW, Georgetown or Sibley. I'm looking for someone who's straight to the point, but I don't want to be rushed during the appointments. i'm a first time mom so I need someone to walk me through everything. I've read a couple forums of patients who felt as though there were rushed and the doctor wasn't the attentive.
i've read about the doctors at Reiter & Hill and also at Capital Womens. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Monthy at GW MFA. Love her. Never made me wait more than 5 minutes (make early morning appointments), answered all my questions, made sure I had all the info I needed and very direct. I never felt rushed, but all of my appointments were relatively short because I didn't have that many questions. I went to Capital Women's for my 1st appointment, hated it and never went back. Good luck! |
Anonymous
I second Dr. Robert Footer! He is an amazing doctor. very caring. Wonderful bedside manner. I've been with him for many years. He only delivers at Sibley though....which is a wonderful hospital by the way. I cried when I had to leave the hospital. 
|
Anonymous
|
I love Dr. Newman at Capital Womens Care. You sometimes have to deal with up to 30 minute waits in the waiting room, but I still think it's worth it. I had some issues with spotting numerous times in the first trimester and every time that happened they worked me in that day and did sonograms, etc. I had some issues at delivery, and while I was in the hospital, Dr. Newman would always call me everyday...sometimes even from home at 8pm, etc to check on me when he wasn't at the hospital that day (although the other drs in the practice would come by and check on me too when Dr. Newman wasn't on call).
They are located at 21st and K and deliver at Sibley....or sometimes GW I believe, but only if you have a high risk pregnancy. |
Anonymous
PP who uses Reiter & Hill here. I totally understand your wanting someone to walk you through everything (I like to be an educated consumer too), so this isn't meant to be snarky, but I think you need to be a little realistic. Based on my insurance co's 'explanation of benefits,' R/H get paid very little per visit (it's like $150 or something), especially when you factor in their overhead (office, expensive equipment, lots of staff, malpractice insurance, etc.). It is a sad reality that they are always going to be rushed to see 4 or 5 patients an hour. Which is no excuse for the doctor to stand with her hand on the doorknob for the 10 minutes you DO have with her (and, in truth, one of the drs in the practice did that to me - I never went back to her!!!), but you cant realistically expect handholding of the old-fashioned kind. Other than that one episode, my experience has been that the docs will give me several minutes at each appt and answer any questions I have, but will not "walk me through everything" - they sort of expect us to have done our homework. I have found this to be sufficient - I read a few good pregnancy books, use the internet wildly, took birth classes, and hired a doula to help me navigate labor and delivery. I went to every appointment with 3-4 questions, and all were answered to my satisfaction. If this doesn't sound like what you want, I highly recommend a midwife practice or, if you can afford it, a doctor who doesn't take insurance (and can therefore charge what he or she needs to charge to provide the kind of patient care most doctors wish they had the time to offer). Good luck! |
aisha314
Member Offline
Member Offline
| Thanks everyone for all your advice. I picked a doctor- Dr. Newman with Capital Women's, I see him on the 19th. Although I think I may have to call him on Monday as I just noticed a light pink discharge twice in 2 days. I'm a little concerned, I've read a little on the internet about what casuses bleeding during pregnancy. |
Anonymous
LOVED Dr. Footer and Dr. DeSouza. Footer delivered me at Sibley with my primary doc, Malcolm deSouza, so ignore this previous post. DeSouza was marvelous and gentle. Footer did my Csection with deSouza as a favor, because they like scrubbing in together, and my C section was high risk. DeSouza practices alone, so you know he will be the one delivering you. He "partners" with Footer so one of them is always available, however. DeSouza does not use an answering service, he gives you his cell phone and he picks up his own phone or calls you right back. He kept me calm and safe throughout a high risk pregnancy. Lots of my friends who are doctors use him, and I figure they could pick anyone. |