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[DebbieG]

I'm looking for opinions on this.... it's long!

My DD9 has had a cough for over a week. On Monday, she wasn't looking so good, so at 2:30 I called for an appointment with her pediatrician. We got a 4:15 appointment. We waited to see a dr until after 5. I was not terribly pleased, but the dr was efficient with his exam, and after a breathing treatment, wanted us to go to the ER for an xray.

We went to the hospital, stayed in the waiting room and ER for 5 hours, and were sent home, told to follow up with our pediatrician in 2 - 4 days. DD seemed better the next day.

Then, at 7 pm we get 2 messages, from the pediatrician's office and the ER - we need to go back to the ER for follow up. They need another xray, and she will most likely be admitted! Yikes!

Get to the ER, have a much better experience, and are out by midnight. Her xrays show significant improvement. We are told to follow up with the pediatrician in 1 - 2 days.

I decide to be proactive, and since I didn't hear from the pediatrician at all after the first ER visit, I call the office first thing this morning. Get a call back from a nurse 2 hours later. She says she will leave a message for the dr who sent us to the ER (not someone we normally make appts with, but he was fine.) At 4:30, I still haven't heard anything, so I call the office that he is working at this afternoon. The person I spoke with says he has the message on his computer, and he may call me today.

He MAY call me? What's that about? My DD has something going on that caused us to be rushed back to the ER last night, and we were told to follow up, and he MAY call us back more than 9 hours after I call his office? I am getting the feeling that I need to find a new pediatrician. I really like the dr we see for our annual exams, but I am not at all liking how this is being handled.

Any feedback for me?

Thanks for reading!

Debbie

[krisk11]

If your not happy with the practice definately find someone you are happy with. I wasn't happy with my dd's pediatrician so I changed her and I to the same doctor (dd is 14 and doesn't need a pediatrician anymore) I;ve been very happy ever since.

[duck addict]

[olendl01]

I agree with Kris...if you are not happy or satisfied, then change. Sometimes we just accept who we have been assigned but honestly, it's your family and their health so why wouldn't we keep looking for that right Dr to take care of them? I did...it took me years to find the right Dr that would take care of my needs and have been very happy ever since. Pixies for the tough time you and your DD is going through!

[home4us123]

[sarah174]

I'd change too, this is your childs health and to have someone be so nonchalant about it wouldn't be acceptable in my book. The best thing I have done is found a pediatrician who has his own office...there's never an option of being pushed off to someone else. That has been the perfect fit for us.
Good Luck to you!!

[scottjs]

I would say find a doctor you like.

[rescuesk]

No advice, lots of !

[roaminggnome]

I hope your daughter is feeling better.
You should change doctors if you are not happy with the treatment you are receiving.

[Teresa]

I'd DEMAND a meeting to talk with the doctor. HE/SHE needs to know how the office staff is handling you.
It is possible they're packed. Our pediatrician's office is so packed lately, there are people sitting on the floor and in the outside hallway (it's in an office building).
SO many people are bringing their kids in, panicking about the possibility of H1N1, that they're having a hard time keeping up.

If you like this doctor, I'd give them a chance to explain what happened and who dropped the ball.

Pixies that your DD continues to improve and doesn't need to go to hospital.

[Disneydiana]

[3girlsmom]

As a former triage nurse in a pediatricians office...i must put in my 2 cents worth. This time of year is HORRIBLE for them. When the phones open in the morning the calls start and they do not stop until they are turned off at 5. When I had to do call backs...I wanted to call in sick because these Mom's are calling and you want to help them out, but there is no way to fit them all in. I agree 9 hours is too long to wait, but the Dr had probably reviewed the X-Ray which was improved and seen the ER report, so was moved down the priority list. That may sound harsh, but if it is anything like where I used to work, the staff is not sitting around drinking coffee...they are just that busy. And often in a pediatric clinic...the staff has to treat the child and then treat the anxiety of the parents which takes even more time!! As a Mom, I would be upset too because I am an over protective Mom that knows her children should be at the top of everyones priority list no matter what. But as a nurse, I know these people work very hard and it is difficult to make everything run smooth when you are trying to help that many people!! Just my 2 cents!!

[chezp]

No advice here either, just

[BritDisFan]

If you are not happy I would change Dr's, hope your DD feels better soon .

[HiddenMickey]

I know you are anxious to know what's happening.
One thing I will say is....at your current doctor's office, you were able to get a same-day appointment (even though it took a while to get to you). You also received a call from them right away when they had concerns about the first x-ray. So it seems to me that they are somewhat on the ball. The fact that you've had to wait for contact with the doctor since the second er visit probably means they no longer have concerns and there are more serious things to keep on top of.

However, you are the best judge of what is acceptable to you for your family and their health care. If you feel that things have changed at this particular office and you are no longer getting the care you used to, then you should start looking for another practice. If this is just a one-time thing, and you've had good/great care previously.....let your doctor know of your concern and disappointment when you talk to him and continue to use them until such a time as you no longer feel comfortable.

Good luck I hope your DD is doing well now!