Pedi doesn't have hospital privileges at NAMC...

Mrs.Purdue

I think our #1 choice for pedi is at Pediatric Associates (I haven't actually met with anyone yet - just going off of your recs, location, information I've read on website, etc) and I'm pretty sure they don't have privileges at NAMC, where we'll be delivering.  Did this bother anyone enough to make them look around for a different pediatrician?  We live Central, so we'd prefer an office that is fairly close to us (especially since DH works south).  I think I've heard that Capital Pediatrics does have privileges at NAMC, so I could always look into them too if anyone thinks it's a big deal that baby would just see a staff pedi while in the hospital. 

Any specific reason why I should definitely look for someone that can come visit us in the hospital, rather than just wait for our first appointment a few days later? 

Mrs.Froggianna

Our pedi didn't have privileges at the hospital where I delivered and it didn't bother me at all.  Yeah, it would've been nice to have the person we'd chosen there, but as long as your DC is healthy and doesn't have complications there's not much to their "visits".

rssnlvr

Our pedi stopped visiting the hospital recently b/c it was taking too much time away from her family. She just told us on our last visit (she did come when Ali was born) that she won't come with Dos. She said Dos will just see the on-staff pedi there and then come see her at his first appt. I'm fine with it.

Duckie07

The pedi we chose also did not have privileges at the hospital where I delivered.  We didn't think twice about the fact that it would be a different pedi in the hospital; we just figured that DD would have to wait until we her first check up to see the pedi (which was right away since she was so small and needed extra visits to the pedi at first).  FWIW, the two pediatricians that saw DD in the hospital were great.  But, I'm also glad that we didn't change pedis just because the one we chose wouldn't be at the hospital. 

tcook23

Our pediatrician doesn't even come to the hospital and with my first I was a little skeptical but heard this is VERY common and once I delivered and went through the process, I didn't think it was a big deal! We got to our pedi that week for her their first check up!

bobcatsteph

tcook23:

Our pediatrician doesn't even come to the hospital and with my first I was a little skeptical but heard this is VERY common and once I delivered and went through the process, I didn't think it was a big deal! We got to our pedi that week for her their first check up!

Ours doesn't go to hospitals either, but we met with her the morning after we were released.

L L CG

I would have thought that it would be important before I had my baby, but it turned out not to be.  Especially if you meet your pedi prior to delivery.  My pedi doesn't do hospital visits so we went to her office the day after we were discharged from the hospital.  The staff pedi's (at NAMC) were fine.  They really just briefly look over the baby.  

I think if (heaven forbid) something were wrong with your LO, a staff pedi would be present at the birth, and then when you are released you would take him to your pedi anyway.  So, I guess what I am saying is that healthy or not, it doesn't matter if your chosen pedi is actually at your hospital.

PrincessBrideSarah

If your child has some sort of problem at birth or shortly thereafter, you may not be happy getting whoever happens to be taking babies without pediatricians who have privileges.

Our pediatrician was on vacation when DD was born, so we got other doctors who work at the same practice. I really liked one of the others (so much so that I almost wished we had picked that doctor for DD, but I don't think he was taking new patients at the time). We did have some jaundice issues, which meant an extra day in the hospital with the light blankets, extra blood tests, and some extra medical care in the few days after discharge. 

I wasn't 100% happy dealing with covering doctors, but I think the situation would have been even more difficult if we got the hospital doctor rather than doctors who work in the office with our chosen pediatrician. There would have been even less continuity of care.

It is very convenient to have a pediatrician near where you live, though. This sounds awful, but I'd maybe declare a pediatrician that has privileges and then switch to a geographically close pedi once you get through the first few weeks.

PrincessBrideSarah

I wanted to add that we had no idea we would have some issues immediately after birth.

amycory2008

I don't think it should matter too much.  We see Dr. Hargrave at Pediatric Associates and we love love love him.  I delivered at Seton, so he came to visit E there, but when we ever have another, we'll be at NAMC.  I didn't even know they didn't have privileges there, but I'm sure I'll live with it.  Definitely go meet whichever pedi you like at Pediatric Associates and see if you click, I bet that'll make your decision much easier.

balihaigirl

Mrs.Froggianna:

Our pedi didn't have privileges at the hospital where I delivered and it didn't bother me at all.  Yeah, it would've been nice to have the person we'd chosen there, but as long as your DC is healthy and doesn't have complications there's not much to their "visits".

this.

Kim777

Our pedi didn't go to either hospital that we delivered at since we live outside of Austin and I delivered in Austin both times. Two of my kids had problems after they were born and I was still really happy with the care we received. Rhett had a birth defect and we saw the hospital pedi first. She admitted immediately that it was beyond what she was comfortable making a call on herself and she called in a neonatologist to consult with her. He determined the best course of action and they gave us the name of a pediatric surgeon to make an appointment with at Strictly Pediatrics after we were discharged. I thought they handled it really well and I don't think our pedi could or would have done anything differently. Wyatt turned blue and wasn't breathing well immediately after he was born and ended up in the NICU seeing more specialists than I could count. They all did a fantastic job. We saw our pedi immediately after each kiddo left the hospital. To me it wasn't a big deal because I knew that the hospital stay was very short in the grand scheme of things and it was much more important to me to go with someone who we really wanted to see long term.

Abrooks

Our pedi didn't have privileges when I delivered Baby N. I knew that from the get go but I love my OB and my pedi - so I wasn't switching either. The hospital pedi was amazing. We had blood sugar issues with Baby N so we saw her several times. Great. Totally happy with the experience and wasn't an issue at all. We just called our regular pedi to setup our newborn appts after Baby N arrived and brought all our paperwork to our first appt.  My $0.02 is to go w/ the doc you love, irregardless of privileges b/c you'll want to love your pedi with as much as you see them that first year.

mlf625

It doesn't really make any difference.  Neither of the kids' pedis saw them right after birth.  What matters more is finding a pedi you click with because you'll see that pedi a whole lot more than your child will be seen at the hospital.

Emer

With #1, our pedi did not visit that hospital (RRMC) and at the time, it didn't bother me.  We saw our pedi at 1 week in the office, so that kind of made up for it in my mind.  DD was checked out by a pedi in the nusery and then she had a nurse that checked on her in the room.  The only thing that bothered me was getting a large bill from a pedi I never saw, but whatever.

For #2, we delivered at NAMC and our pedi saw him 3 days and another doc int he office saw him the other day.  They spent WAY more time with us and I was much happier with the care.  We already had a relationship with our pedi and so I'm sure that made a difference, but overall I was really glad she was there.  

All of that being said, I don't know that I would not choose someone to care for my child for 18 years because of the first 2-4 days, but I did really like the experience of our own pedi being in the hospital.

MrsRegis

I've heard several not so good things about Capital Pediatrics. The people I've heard of who went there ended up switching. You can always ask Ped. Associates what they think about not seeing the baby in the hospital and if it's a big deal. They are the best Dr. office I've ever worked with.