Insurance costs are affecting the quality of our health care and I find it very disturbing! I am very unhappy with my kids' pediatrician. This person came recommended by several people, but I have yet to determine why. During our three well-child checks for the girls, I felt our physician was rushed, didn't do an appropriate exam and didn't give us time to ask questions. She also missed a diminished range of motion on Ella's left side because she went through her exam so quickly and then stood out in the hallway drinking coffee. (Ron noticed it at home and we have been working on correcting it.)
The office is pretty unaccessable with poor customer service. Today I called to speak to a nurse, went through the phone menu only to hear a recording that they didn't have one and to call 911 if it was an emergency. I called the receptionist and asked to speak to a nurse. She said there wasn't one. When I pressed on, she put me on hold. Then I got a woman who said she had some medical knowledge and maybe she could help. She never identified herself and I assumed she was the secretary. She became upset with me when I refused her help stating she may not have an RN after her name, but she was a CNA.
I think we were spoiled with our previous pediatrician who spent time talking to us and examing more than our child's heart, lungs and reflexes. She even administered vaccinations. I asked my DH to ask around for other names of pediatricians since we are both disappointed in our current choice. He came home after talking to some local peds and was told that many of them are getting out of primary care because the only way to make money is to see patients every ten minutes. Doing that they lose some of the patient contact and the work loses some of its rewards. So now the peds are working for the insurance companies and possibly providing diminished care? That irks me!
After today I have lost my patience because I expect a certain level of care and even though we didn't have an emergency I had to have my concerns relayed through my pediatrician by a CNA who reads from a manual. Our insurance, being an HMO, doesn't offer us too many options for PCPs. Also, many offices in our area are taking newborns as new patients but not older children. Would you confront your pediatrician if you were unhappy with the care you received or would you just move on?
This turned out to be a long post. Sorry!
Jennifer
The office is pretty unaccessable with poor customer service. Today I called to speak to a nurse, went through the phone menu only to hear a recording that they didn't have one and to call 911 if it was an emergency. I called the receptionist and asked to speak to a nurse. She said there wasn't one. When I pressed on, she put me on hold. Then I got a woman who said she had some medical knowledge and maybe she could help. She never identified herself and I assumed she was the secretary. She became upset with me when I refused her help stating she may not have an RN after her name, but she was a CNA.
I think we were spoiled with our previous pediatrician who spent time talking to us and examing more than our child's heart, lungs and reflexes. She even administered vaccinations. I asked my DH to ask around for other names of pediatricians since we are both disappointed in our current choice. He came home after talking to some local peds and was told that many of them are getting out of primary care because the only way to make money is to see patients every ten minutes. Doing that they lose some of the patient contact and the work loses some of its rewards. So now the peds are working for the insurance companies and possibly providing diminished care? That irks me!
After today I have lost my patience because I expect a certain level of care and even though we didn't have an emergency I had to have my concerns relayed through my pediatrician by a CNA who reads from a manual. Our insurance, being an HMO, doesn't offer us too many options for PCPs. Also, many offices in our area are taking newborns as new patients but not older children. Would you confront your pediatrician if you were unhappy with the care you received or would you just move on?
This turned out to be a long post. Sorry!
Jennifer
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