Peditricians

[SuzySunshine]

Do any of his colleagues have kids? I have 2 friends who live there with kids but I'm not sure they'd be on your insurance. One is an ENT family, let me know if you want me to ask them.

[MrsK]

Please ask them. It would be DrK's insurance which seems to be pretty comprehensive.

[SuzySunshine]

Here is the first one which looks perfect b/c its' KU staff:

Her name is Dr. Melhorn (KU Pediatric Faculty Clinic) 316-962-3100. I have Dr. friends who see another pediatrician there (dr. Issa) and are also really happy

I'll let you know when I hear from my other friend

[rockgirl]

Ask around, ask ask ask. Hopefully you'll find two people who recommend the same practice/doctor. My feeling is that it comes down to being comfortable asking this person silly questions, when you are a clueless new parent. Being able to have a two way conversation is important to me. weekend sick visits are definitely a plus!

good luck!

[moonlight]

Ask the nurses on the pediatric floor and in the ER. They know all of the peds attendings and all of their quirks. Find out which pediatricians the nurses use for their kids.

I had a very quick and thankfully uneventful trip to L&D about three weeks ago. I knew everything was fine but the ob doctor on call says "I can't say for sure you are ok over the phone. I'm up here at the hospital, why don't you come on down??" <like it's a party I wanna come over for... whatever> I take the opportunity to totally pimp the L&D nurse about a peds doctor when she says she just had her first baby and he's about six months old. From there my nurse lady neighbor (w/ a school age child) and some girls from birthing classes all recommended this one Pediatrician.

I'd like to meet him before hand and his office staff told me over the phone he is happy to set up a 'pre natal' appointment. I'm not really sure what I'd ask him if I make the appointment....????

Good Luck MrsK! I hope you find a really good fit for your family.

[MrsK]

Thanks. By the way, I cannot believe you are so close to your due date! Wow! Seems like only yesterday you were asking us what the little pink line meant.

I asked a peds resident married to one of DH's fellow residents. I know you said he is at a different hospital but he might find someone through the other residents in his program. Good luck! There are so many visits early on that it is nice to find someone you click with.

We never interviewed a ped before DS was born but I will agree with the advice to pick a practice with multiple docs. We have switched twice but within the practice. So much easier than switching to a different office!

In my case we switched because I felt that we were getting lectured about our parenting style - cosleeping, breastfeeding etc. I love our current ped though; he doesn't ask about these things and is concerned only with DS' health and development, and is great with kids, which is all I ask of a ped!

If Cheri's suggestion doesn't work out for insurance or otherwise, let me know. I just remembered that a friend from elementary school lives in the same town. She has 3 kids and one child has some difficult health issues. I'm sure she has a favorite pediatrician or two.

[moonlight]

Thanks. By the way, I cannot believe you are so close to your due date! Wow! Seems like only yesterday you were asking us what the little pink line meant.

Ahhh thanks MrsK! LOL! I was just thinking about that little pink line yesterday. I have to say time has really gone by quickly in this pregnancy. I guess it's because we've had several changes this year.

[MrsK]

If Cheri's suggestion doesn't work out for insurance or otherwise, let me know. I just remembered that a friend from elementary school lives in the same town. She has 3 kids and one child has some difficult health issues. I'm sure she has a favorite pediatrician or two.

I'm collecting recommendations so please let me know. I'm hoping that the same name will come up more than once but so far I've got a couple different ones.

[SuzySunshine]

Here is the other one:

We have been happy with Dr. Banfield at Mid-Kansas Pediatric. He also works with residents at KU Med in Wichita. It's a farily large practice, I believe 8 or so doctors. I've also heard great things about Dr. Chavez at the same practice. They have an East office, West office, and also one in Derby. East office 634-2000.

Ithink so much of the effectiveness of Pediatrician is how well you gell w/ pediatrician. We went thru several due to moves with 1st kiddo. First 2 made me cry - especially one who told me at DS 4 mo check up - he was only going to be as tall as 5'4 and we needed to talk about what we should "do about it"... I sobbed like a baby to my husband. He was furious, charted son's own growth and weight - talked to docs in his hospital - they said there is no way that doc would know that at 4 mo old. I am now with a pediatrician who we LOVE. We tried several docs in the practice but stuck with one - Big things for me is sick hours on weekend, they round on my boys when they are in the hospital and visit and round on newborns. We have practices here where pediatricians do not round in hospitals and depend on records on how to do follow up treatment. To me - that could cause disconnect and a miss of something that might be important that would've been caught if they were rounding at the hospital....

Here you go...

We go to Dr Kay Womack 316-609-4400 at the Wichita Clinic at 21st and Webb. She is a good Dr and very attentive.

[MrsK]

Ok, so I've compiled all the recommendations I've received thus far. I've got 7 recommendations for 7 different doctors. However, they appear to be within 3 practices: KU Pediatric, Mid-Kansas Pediatric, and Wichita Clinic. So I guess I'll be setting up pre-natal appointments at these three offices.