Worst. Doctor's Visit. Ever.

AliciaS1411

Elliots 4 months check up was hell. plain and simple.I scheduled the appointment for 9:45 AM because Elliot usually naps around 11:30. I figured we?d get in and be finished just in time for his nap, with would help after his vaccinations.So I arrived at the doctor?s office at 9:30, signed in and sat down. and waited. and waited. People came in, went back, and LEFT, and I still sat in the waiting area. Finally at 10:45, a full hour after the scheduled appointment, I was called and we went back. The intake person measured and weighed Elliot and check all out information, then put us in a room?where I waited again. I decided to go ahead and feed Elliot, Change him, and held him and he went to sleep. Why? Because it was nap time! It was 11:35, and I decided that if I wasn?t seen within the next ten minutes I was just going to leave.Finally, at 11:40, TWO HOURS after my scheduled appointment, the CNP (we?ll call her June) walks in. I was stunned. We saw June when Elliot was just a few weeks old and she was so rude that I called the office manager and requested to NEVER see her again, and I made sure it was noted in Elliots file. I also made sure to ask who I was being scheduled with for every appointment after that. This appointment was supposed to be scheduled with the actual Doctor (we?ll call him Dr. Blue). So when June came into the room I was floored. I couldn?t believe we were seeing this woman again..She immediately chimed in one Elliot?s weight. Elliot was born at 6 pounds 3 oz, and he now weighs 11 pounds 4 oz. They?re supposed to double their birth weight by 6 months, so now at 4 months, Elliot is right on track! But according to her its not and I should be feeding him more.  *eyeroll*. She did a quick check of him and asked me questions as she did it. I specifically mentioned that I had a few questions to ask and wanted to discuss their views on starting solids and she said ok, then she started talking about Elliots breathing.Anyone who has met Elliot in person knows he?s a noisy breather. When we saw June the first time she referred us to an ENT Doctor and we went, and we saw them twice. That doctor concluded that Elliot?s noisy breathing wasn?t anything to be concerned about and was caused by the way his nose and throat developed. He was confident that Elliot will grow out of it in a year or so. She asked if we saw the ENT, I told her yes and explained everything they said, and she replied that she thought that the ENT might be wrong and was going to ask Dr. Blue to come look at El. (I?d like to add here that I LOVE Dr. Blue. He?s one of the two Doctors in the practice and he?s SO sweet and thorough.) Dr. Blue comes in and looks over Elliot and said that he agreed with the ENT and felt there was no need to Elliot to be seen again before the 1 year mark. He spoke with me for a minute and asked how we were doing, then excused himself and left the room. Well June turns around and walks out after him, shuts the door, and then I hear her arguing with him about whether or not Elliot should go back to the ENT.About 5 minutes later (its now noon) a nurse comes in to check Elliots oxygen level, which was 100%. Then he leaves, but he left the door open. I sat and waited to finish the appointment?about 5 minutes later a nurse walking by stops and says, ?Oh honey you can leave.? I just looked at her for a second and said, ?um?I?m waiting on his vaccinations and I?m not finished talking with June.? The nurse replied, ?June already left for lunch? we?re all out of the vaccinations right now, so we?ll just get him at his 6 month appointment.?WHAT. I was literally stunned into silence. Its one thing that they?re out of the vaccines, but its a complete other problem that the CNP LEFT in the middle of my appointment! Oh my god I was angry. I?m STILL angry. I shoved all of my stuff in the diaper bag, dressed Elliot, got him in the carseat, and went to check out. The girl at check out asked if I have his next two appointments scheduled (6 months and 9 months) and I said no and she starts to schedule them. ?I?m not going to be able to get him in until the new year. Is the last week in January ok??Again?WHAT? My son needs a 6 month check up and your next available appointment isn?t until he?s almost 8 months??I ended up just leaving. I don?t even know what to say about it all. I?m just stunned and livid. I?m going to take Elliot to the health department to get his vaccinations, and we?re starting the search for a new pediatrician right now.

BR

That sounds horrible.  How could they not have told you up front that they were out of vaccines?  And really is it safe to wait until his 8 month appointment? That nurse sounds awful...I would definitely not go back there and would be looking for a new pedi.  Sorry you had such a bad day.

alizabethanne

Awful! I hope you find a new pedi ASAP. What a crappy day!

AliciaS1411

alizabethanne:

Awful! I hope you find a new pedi ASAP. What a crappy day!

lol we had some retail therapy afterwards at Target. =P 

Sigir

You shoul call or write a letter to Dr Blue explaining why you are leaving the practice. He needs to know that one of his employees is causing him to lose patients.

AliciaS1411

Sigir:

You shoul call or write a letter to Dr Blue explaining why you are leaving the practice. He needs to know that one of his employees is causing him to lose patients.

Dr. B isn't the head doctor in the practice, but I do plan on writing one to the head doctor and the office manager. If Dr. B had his own practice I would definitely go there. haha 

michelle04us

I'm so sorry! I would be looking for another pedi too after that many problems.

I had a similar experience at James's 2 month check up. We were taken back pretty much right away but had to wait for almost 40 min to finally see the dr then after he left I waited an additional almost 45-50 min for his vaccinations. Apparently the dr. forgot to put an order in for them (huh?). The only reason it didn't take longer is because I went to the checkout and asked if my child would be getting his vaccinations and they were like we can schedule them for you and I said "that's what I'm here for today. The dr. said it would be about 5-10 min til a nurse came in and its been 50 min." There were so many people that came by my room and saw me in there and didn't stop and ask why I was still there. This is the first bad experience with this practice so I will be giving them another chance on the 22nd for Jame's 4 month checkup.  

anonsouthernbell

I would be irate!  You really should call dr b and tell him your concerns.  (I'm always skeptical that neg letters get past the office staff that reads the mail.). I know that he isn't the head dr but since you have rapport w. him I'd call him instead.

strawberrytree

I would be irate over the vaccines thing. Not giving my kid his 4 month shots until he's nearly 8 months old is just totally unacceptable. The vaccine schedule is set up the way it is for a reason. I hope you can find another dr. who will be able to get you in ASAP for his shots. And I would not hold back in the letter I wrote to the head of the practice explaining the poor service you've received and why you're leaving.  

amberlynnr7

Sorry you had such a horrible appointment, but I'm glad you guys are finally switching. I think you probably should've stopped going one of the last times since they gave you so many problems. I probably would've walked out after I found out June was doing the appointment.

I also think it's really rude of them to not have told you that they didn't have the vaccinations ready in advance. Esp because (if I'm correct) you drive so far to get there.

seansgirl2006

That is insane.  That whole visit, especially the wait to start with, is completely unacceptable.  I agree with others that you should let them know why you're leaving and definitely find somewhere else.  You should never have to wait anywhere near that long.  Sorry you had to deal with that nightmare.  I know how it is at a doctor's office when you're already there and you've waited so long.  You think you don't want to leave because any minute they will finally call you and it turns into forever.  Hope you find a better place soon.

lskay00

OMG!  I just about fell off my chair reading this!  I woud've have left earlier than you did, but more power to you for sticking it out and remaining calm the whole time.  I can not believe that they just left you there and went to lunch in the middle.  I hope you find a new doc soon.  Good Luck, Mama!!