Switch to family Dr vs Pediatrician?

[gerberdaisy]

Curious other people's thoughts/experiences.

Right now our pediatrician is 40 minutes away. While we don't go often, mainly just for annual check ups, it really is a pain.  I've also never been happy with the practice, but that was mainly during the baby phase and primarily because their advice was very outdated. 

There aren't a lot of options near here, another peds practice 20 minutes away that is really popular is about it.  I was thinking of seeing if I could get them into my doctor which is labeled a family practice (in my town, 2 minute away).  Any reason that that wouldn't be a good idea? Kids are almost 8 and 5, never had any health concerns. My SIL is a pediatrician in a different city and I'll ask her her advice as well, just looking for others experience.

Thanks!

[countthestars]

We see a pediatrician, but in your case I think I’d switch. You could always switch back if you find you don’t like the care? There are two family care practices near me that people use - one has good reviews and the other doesn’t. Are there any moms groups you could ask on Facebook?

[twinmomma]

We've only ever used a family doctor. When I was pregnant and looking for a pediatrician my doctor let me know that she's a family doc and could see all of us. I don't regret that choice at all! I love her as a doctor and really love that she sees our entire family. She knows all our history and how what's going on with each of us might be impacting others. For example, she knows that my anxiety is ramped up because we're navigating things with my daughter's ADHD diagnosis so she can check in on me while also caring for my daughter. I can't imagine not having a family doc at this point.

[wanderingback]

Yep family medicine doctors are trained in pediatrics and if they advertise as seeing kids (some family doctors only see teens and above because stocking vaccines can be a huge pain/expense), then there’s no reason not to. It’s also great when 1 doctor can know your whole family. Obviously if you know someone that goes to the office getting a personal review is often nice, but otherwise if it’s convenient I wouldn’t hesitate to switch.

[waverly]

I would switch and try it out. If it doesn't work out, you can always try the closer by pediatrician.

I personally prefer pediatricians, but that is because they kept up to date, so if yours isn't then I don't see a harm in switching. And my kids have more complex medical issues.

[jaycee]

I'd switch if I were you.

One of my besties is a family doctor and she is brilliant. She's not my kids' doctor, but she gives the best advice about babies/kids/teens.

[gerberdaisy]

Thanks everyone! Just the feedback I was hoping for. I'll call and get them on the wait list at least.

[mrsGreeko]

I switched my oldest to a family practice when she was 13 or 14. I figured it was a good time to start seeing a doc she could continue to see into adulthood. I regret it honestly because a lot of the doctors at the family practice don’t see peds ( I don’t actually understand this, but that’s how it is). And they are a LOT harder to get into for sick visits, which unfortunately she’s had a lot of in the past couple years. It is fine, but I will probably leave my younger kids at the pedi for a little longer.

My suggestion would be to find out how many of the providers actually see peds and how quickly sick visits fill up before you switch. Kids need more sick visits in general than adults and urgent care can be annoying. My DD has ended up in urgent care a few times in the past 2 years and it is always an hours long ordeal. Maybe if you have a quick urgent care it’s not so bad. She’s been in urgent care for a UTI and we were there for 3-4 hours. When she scratched her cornea we had to do ER because urgent care hours were over, it took 2 hours. That kind of thing.

[mcppalmbeach]

Same as above regarding sick visits. My dad just called for a sick visit to his family physician. They gave him an appt a month away, it basically forces you to use an urgent care for sick visits. I have to do this for myself, but I will not for my kids. I want their care providers to have their physical history. So I would just be get very clear answers on how sick appts are handled and how quickly you will be able to be seen.

[Susie]

Yeah, I'd make that switch.  I like taking my kids to a pediatrician at their ages (3 and 6) because all the doctors and nurses used to dealing with little kids, they're armed with colorful stickers and bandaids and lollipops, and all that kid-friendly stuff, but your kids are already aging out of a lot of that.  And a 40 minute drive each way is unmanageable.  When it's so far that you don't wanna go, you need to switch. 

[jeaniebueller]

My kids see a family doctor

[gerberdaisy]

As far a sick visits, we have had one in the last 2+ years, mainly because its so far away I do anything to avoid it (and *knock on wood* we haven't needed them). Luckily we have lots of urgent cares, including one less than 5 minutes and a really good children's one 20 minutes. I've only had to make one appointment for myself and got in the next day (wasn't urgent).

I just called and got on the wait list. Both kids have check ups over the summer so will do those with the pediatrician and then hopefully be able to switch.

[pugz]

I grew up going to a family practice and we do now too. It is extremely helpful that I see the same doctor as my 2 kids because she has gotten to know us so well over the years. My husband was seeing her for a while too but he wants someone closer to work so he's switching.

[momin2013]

I'd switch. I also grew up going to a family doctor, never went to a pediatrician. We just switched DS (9), mainly because my DH moved to a new family doctor that he really likes/is very convenient, so I figured we might as well switch DS too.

[sdlaura]

I place a huge premium on location for doctors - I want to be able to see someone easily after work if I get a call from daycare that my kid has been fussy and pulling on his ear, or whatever. I would switch.

[macmars45]

My DS(6) has only seen an actual pedi for one year of his life. It's been nbd to see a pcp for yearly checkups. Right now H, DS and I see the same medical provider at the same office. It's been really nice. I did laugh really hard when H came home from taking DS to his yearly appt in April and our provider acted like she'd never met H before. He'd never taken DS to see this particular provider, however he had seen her himself 2 months prior and 6-8 months before that.

ETA: I personally only saw a pedi when I was very young. Then my parents switched me to a pcp. It was nbd.