RP: Pissed at Pedi's - Advice/Opinions Needed - Long!

TaraF. · October 2008

Hi ~ I need your opinions b/c right now I am so pissed that I may not be thinking clearly.
My DD will be 9 months on the 14th of October. We have been going to a local Pediatricians office which is the biggest and supposedly the best in my area (they have night hours, weekend appts and several locations and dr's) I held off on making DD's 9 month well visit b/c I was starting a new job and was unsure of my hours, etc.
I started said new job on Monday. I called tonight to schedule DD for 9 month well visit and the office told me that they do not do well visit appts at night only during the day. I asked how can that be since they have night appts and their response was that they only see sick kids in the evening..Well visits are scheduled from 8am till 4pm, Monday thru Friday (Saturday appts are for sick appts also) I hung up and called back and spoke to someone else who was very rude and told me the same thing. I asked what people that work full time do and her reply was that that isn't her problem! WTF! I got really upset on the phone b/c I just started a new job on Monday so I cannot take a day off or even a half day to take my DD to the pedi for a well visit. I think it is BS that they don't do well visits at night. Am I nuts or is this standard procedure? I asked if an exception could be made and they said no absolutely not! So would you call again tomorrow and fight for an exception or would you find another Pedi?
Sorry so long -- Thanks for reading!

SunshineBrideNJ · October 2008

I don't know of any pedi's that have night visits for well baby checkups. I think it's pretty standard that they are during normal business hours. It stinks, but you will probably just have to ask for time off. Maybe you can get the earliest or latest appointment so that you can minimize your time off.

Mcrocker79 · October 2008

Doctor's offices can schedule appointments however they want to. If you need a pediatrician who can do well visits in the evening or on the weekend, it does sound like you need to find a different one. Sorry you are going through this!

ali-1411 · October 2008

I think that's pretty standard, our office has Saturday appts for sick visits only.

They could not have weekend or night hours at all, its just supposed to be a convenience for when the kids get sick.

sara1104 · October 2008

very standard, and I know its tough when you work full time. if you think about it, if they filled all the evenings and weekends with well visit checks, there would be no room for sick child visits. As a matter of fact, most offices limit the number of pre-scheduled appointments in a day, that way they can work in sick children with your Pedi. On of the things I like about my Pedi is, along with 8-9am sick child hours, they also always work you in day of with your Pedi when your baby is sick

mrsnewlywed2005 · October 2008

it's very standard.

Luckystar2 · October 2008

They can really set it up however they want. Our pedi's office just started having night and weekend hours. I think one of them is just for sick but not sure, haven't looked into it yet (they just started).

Our office has appointments till 4 I think. Can you try to schedule for the first or last appt? Then see if maybe you can go into work a little late and stay late, or go in early and leave early? Or what about during lunchtime (not sure how far away everything is).

roseroseroseroserose · October 2008

My pedi only sees sick kids on Sat. It's annoying, but it's the rule. Sorry.

flyer23 · October 2008

We've never had a pediatrician who has offered evening hours, so I think it's pretty cool that you even have that option.

One of our pediatricians (we've moved twice since DD was born, so we've had a lot of them) was part of a practice that also offered pediatric urgent care on nights/weekends. But obviously, urgent care didn't do well-baby visits.

Aside from this issue, do you like your pediatrician? (The rude person on the phone would kinda turn me off, personally...) If so, I would stick with him/her. Otherwise, you can call around to other pedis. I doubt you'll find one who will do well-baby visits at night, but it's worth a shot.

Erin&Ryan · October 2008

I dont' think you're out of line at all! I take my DS for his well visits after work - usually our appointment is around 5-6:00PM. I think it sucks that they won't see you in the evening, and I'd find a more accomadating practice.

alisonada · October 2008

Our pedis office is similar - they offer well visits in the evenings, but on a VERY limited basis, you need to schedule them months in advance. Luckily my DH is home with DD 1 1/2 days per week so I just try to schedule her check-ups when he can take her, but I agree that it's very inconvenient for working parents. If your pedi is supposedly one of the best in the area and you're otherwise happy with them I'd probably just suck it up and stay with them. But really, there was no reason for the lady on the phone to be so rude to you about it!

RoxyLynn · October 2008

Since you don't have time off yet, can your DH do the visit?

madhatter2003 · October 2008

Our doctor is the same way....well visits are mornings only usually and sick visits are afternoon and evening/weekends. They try to keep the afternoons open for people who call that morning and need to been seen the same day.

ours opens really early though at 7:45 so I can usually get the first or 2nd appt and still get to work on time.

Taylor44 · October 2008

Yes, I think that is pretty standard. However, do you really want to take your child for a wellness check-up when the office is full of sick kids? I asked this question specifically when I was selecting my pedi. But, I have a flexible work schedule, so my situation is a little different. I wouldn't want to miss going to the check-up, but could someone else take your child? The other part is how the office staff acted. If they are rude every time you call or visit, they might not be the best place for you and your child. When I call my pedi, the staff is very nice and helpful. If you get a bad vibe from the pedi's office, you may want to find another one. You need to have a good relationship with your pedi.

skittles_123 · October 2008

I'd look for another pediatrician.

MustLoveCats · October 2008

I have to say that this sounds pretty reasonable. It is easier for my and my DH to schedule time off for a well visit in advance, but I would really appreciate the extra long hours just in case my baby needs to be taken in the same day because of a sickness.

I realize that this is inconvenient for you, but I personally got myself into a mindset that my kid is my priority. I have absolutely no issue telling my employer that I need time off to take care of my baby's health (well, fortunately, I have not had to take too much time off, so it has worked so far). I also try to schedule the first appointment of the morning to minimize my time away from work.

molldoll71 · October 2008

I know this is standard procedure at Billy's Dr. - they only do sick visits at night or flu shot tyes of visits and the same for Saturdays. Their first appointment of the day is at 8:30 so we bring him in then - no wait and we both get to work by 10. So only an hour late. Can you make the 8:00 am appointment and just get to work a little late?

MrsSayre3.20.04 · October 2008

It's standard practice. All pediatricians have set days and times for well babies and sick babies. You will have to take an hour or two, or have your husband or a grandparent take her. I don't think this is a reason to find a new pediatrician.

Pesky · October 2008

My pedi doesn't do night visits but they will schedule well visits on Saturdays for the exact reason you specified -- many parents work and can't get off during the week. Sounds like there is a fundamental problem between the schedule your pedi keeps and what you need so I would find another pedi, especially as it sounds like you would be unlikely to get any exception.

ridesbuttons · October 2008

Very late to the discussion but I hope you've calmed down.

Obviously the office can schedule appointments any way they choose. It is great that they are available for sick kids evenings and weekends. My doctor is available Mon-Thurs 8-12 & 1-4:30. Granted I live in a small town and he has hospital rounds, etc., but those are my options - just to give you some perspective.

If it is too inconvenient to schedule an appointment with your current pedi, then shop around for one that can accomodate your needs.

On another note - can't your husband take your DD to the appointment? Can it be done on a lunch break?

P.G.&A.M. · October 2008

I hate to say it, but your ped's office policy is pretty standard. Calling back or getting upset with the schedulers will certainly not help you. In fact sometimes in offices a person can get a lable as being difficult and schedulers will actually be a lot less helpful to those people- just to warn you. Can you schedule an appointment for 1st thing in the morning and then just stay a little later in the day to make up the time? Can your husband take your DD? Can you go during lunch?

Halo79RN · October 2008

okay, I used to work for an office and did the evening hours and weekends. They only saw sick visits at that time. It was the on call pedi that was seeing kids. It was for sick kids and it usually filled up quickly with sick children. It's there for a reason... and really, when you pick up dc from daycare and she's sick, you'll be happy that those hours aren't filled up with well visits. Many people need to get in the same day to be seen ... they need some spots for that reason.

It stinks for you and those who work full time, but in most offices, this is the case. You may look around and find a different setting.. but honestly, most parents work and are dealing with the same situation.

sorry.

hiltyn78 · October 2008

Sadly, that procedure is standard but I don't think it's standard that people are rude to you when you ask about it. It's a valid point. Mine does have evening hours but they fill up long before I ever remember to make my DD's appts. Sometimes my mom will take her for me, but mostly I just take some time off to take her.