Pediatrician advice

[teatimefor2]

I'm new at this, finding a pediatrician.  In the UK, it was based on catchment zone so it was more about the GP, rather than individual pediatrician.  When we moved to NYC, a girl friend I trust recommended hers, and I knew it was only short term, but now I need to find a pedi.

I have a 21 month old son and am expecting.  I asked my neighbor who has four boys and she gave me hers, but said she hated them.  Apparently, her eldest son was born with really bad asthma, allergies, etc.  Aside from annual school required visits, she takes everyone to their allergist.  I'm not sure her judgment is fair or accurate given she was a young new mom at the time.  

Of courses, it is the one that on-line looks really nice, has fantastic hours, close by and I really genuinely like what I've read on their website.  The practice has five doctors.  It is in the next town over... and the one my new neighbor hates.

After doing some more research, the main one in town has two doctors, but neither are US trained.  Both are Eastern European trained... which makes me pause for no real reason.

A third is in another border town, it is a solo practice with mainly evening hours - 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for example, but has rave reviews.  The Dr also does home visits the first month of baby's life.  I will admit, since it's one doctor and not a practice, that has me concerned.  I also don't want to travel miles to the pedi, I would really prefer someone local.

Any comments/suggestions.  I have to admit, I am really starting to stress about this.  Thanks! 


OOPS!  I meant this to go on MMM, can someone move it over!  Thanks!

[dr.girlfriend]

I feel like I'm missing something...where are you now? In the U.S., or back abroad?

I think the doctor near you with evening hours and home visits sounds pretty awesome.  I'm sure she has some kind of coverage plan with another individual practitioner, but you could always ask.  For real emergencies you'd probably go to the ED anyway.

[teatimefor2]

Jul 11, 2014 13:55:56 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I feel like I'm missing something...where are you now? In the U.S., or back abroad?

I think the doctor near you with evening hours and home visits sounds pretty awesome.  I'm sure she has some kind of coverage plan with another individual practitioner, but you could always ask.  For real emergencies you'd probably go to the ED anyway.

We are in the US and most likely for a long time, although I'd love to live aboard again.

[dr.girlfriend]

Jul 11, 2014 14:01:30 GMT -5 teatimefor2 said:

Jul 11, 2014 13:55:56 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I feel like I'm missing something...where are you now? In the U.S., or back abroad?

I think the doctor near you with evening hours and home visits sounds pretty awesome.  I'm sure she has some kind of coverage plan with another individual practitioner, but you could always ask.  For real emergencies you'd probably go to the ED anyway.

We are in the US and most likely for a long time, although I'd love to live aboard again.

Okay.  With the Eastern Europe trained docs and the "border town" business I couldn't tell if you were somewhere in Europe.  Are you in a rural area?  I feel like pediatricians are pretty thick on the ground in most places.  Is the "next town over" a five minute drive, or a twenty-minute drive?  I know you said you didn't want to drive for "miles" but an extra few minutes in the car for a pedi you like a lot would be worth it for me.

[vanillacourage]

I would ask your neighbor why she hates the closer office. If it's that she didn't click with one of the doctors, you could easily just ask to see one of the other 4 they had. Or if it's that they are disorganized, impossible to get an appt, that would give you a better idea of whether to try them out.

[dr.girlfriend]

Jul 11, 2014 14:04:17 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask your neighbor why she hates the closer office. If it's that she didn't click with one of the doctors, you could easily just ask to see one of the other 4 they had. Or if it's that they are disorganized, impossible to get an appt, that would give you a better idea of whether to try them out.

This is a good point.  My pedi was in a practice with four other docs.  I hated one of them, and loved the others.  I just called when scheduling a sick visit and asked which doc we would be seeing, and if it was the one I didn't like I was like, "When is the next available with a different doc?"  They all seemed to know he was a jerk, lol. 

[geek96]

Are you in NNJ? I have a rec. in Bergen county. Not sure if you are near Paramus but they have multiple locations and weekend hours. We have a main pediatrician but someone is always available if DS is ill which I like about large practices.

[teatimefor2]

Jul 11, 2014 14:04:17 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask your neighbor why she hates the closer office. If it's that she didn't click with one of the doctors, you could easily just ask to see one of the other 4 they had. Or if it's that they are disorganized, impossible to get an appt, that would give you a better idea of whether to try them out.

She didn't think the pedi (she gave me the Dr's name) did enough to address her concerns regarding the asthma/allergies.  This was 14 years ago, so a lot could have changed.  Dr is still there, but I'm guessing significantly more experienced.

[teatimefor2]

Jul 11, 2014 14:06:23 GMT -5 geek96 said:

Are you in NNJ? I have a rec. in Bergen county. Not sure if you are near Paramus but they have multiple locations and weekend hours. We have a main pediatrician but someone is always available if DS is ill which I like about large practices.

Sent you a PM - thanks!

[anna7602]

I would just try the one that is closeby and has great hours. You can switch later if you find that they don't mesh with you. It's extremely convenient to have your pedi closeby when LO is sick.

As for the US-or-not-trained bit, this doesn't bother me at all. DD's two main pedis are Colombian and Argentine and I really like them both. For me, it's more about whether their philosophies are in line with mine. When we lived in France, I hated our first pedi's approach to treating every minor illness with antibiotics and eventually found a pedi there who was not like this.

[CloudBee]

I would try that large practice that your neighbor doesn't like. Changes are it's a specific doctor she didn't mesh well with, based on what you've said. Hours and convenience as important, so I would test that office out and hope that I liked the care as well. Location and hours are one thing that you CAN choose, but finding a doctor you like takes experience. You have to really test doctors out to know if it will be a good fit. So why not go with the one that already has some positives to begin with?

Switching isn't the end of the world. It's just annoying.

Good luck!

[vanillacourage]

Jul 11, 2014 14:08:28 GMT -5 teatimefor2 said:

Jul 11, 2014 14:04:17 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask your neighbor why she hates the closer office. If it's that she didn't click with one of the doctors, you could easily just ask to see one of the other 4 they had. Or if it's that they are disorganized, impossible to get an appt, that would give you a better idea of whether to try them out.

She didn't think the pedi (she gave me the Dr's name) did enough to address her concerns regarding the asthma/allergies.  This was 14 years ago, so a lot could have changed.  Dr is still there, but I'm guessing significantly more experienced.

One person I barely know disliking one doctor out of five, 14 years ago? No big deal.

[jaybird]

Jul 11, 2014 14:06:23 GMT -5 geek96 said:

Are you in NNJ? I have a rec. in Bergen county. Not sure if you are near Paramus but they have multiple locations and weekend hours. We have a main pediatrician but someone is always available if DS is ill which I like about large practices.

My pediatrician is in Paramus and, based on geek96 description, probably the same practice. Most of my friends go to one off the branches and I love our specific doctor. Also, if you're delivering at Valley they are one of the main providers there which made everything easier.

[teatimefor2]

Jul 11, 2014 16:43:16 GMT -5 jaybird said:

Jul 11, 2014 14:06:23 GMT -5 geek96 said:

Are you in NNJ? I have a rec. in Bergen county. Not sure if you are near Paramus but they have multiple locations and weekend hours. We have a main pediatrician but someone is always available if DS is ill which I like about large practices.

My pediatrician is in Paramus and, based on geek96 description, probably the same practice. Most of my friends go to one off the branches and I love our specific doctor. Also, if you're delivering at Valley they are one of the main providers there which made everything easier.

I am delivering at Valley. If you wouldn't mind sharing their practices details, is be grateful.

Thank you!

[jaybird]

[/quote]I am delivering at Valley. If you wouldn't mind sharing their practices details, is be grateful.

Thank you![/quote]

I PMed you!