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Northern California Babies
XP: Kaiser questions
We may be switching from our PPO to Kaiser later this year. I've never had Kaiser and want to start researching docs now, as we will need to find: a GP, an endocrinologist, a pediatrician, and an OB/GYN.
My questions:
Any tips on getting into a specific doctor's practice if they are listed as "not accepting new patients"?
If I start with whomever I can get an appointment with, can I switch to another doc at a later date? (in other words, are you stuck once you start with someone?)
Personal recs for any of the above docs in the Folsom or Roseville areas?
I forgot to ask this in my original post on the local board, but if you have Kaiser, are you happy with the level of care? I know historically Kaiser has had struggles, but I have heard that they have made great strides in the past ten years and have really ramped up their level of care and overall patient experience. Any general feedback or suggestions is always appreciated. Thanks.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: XP: Kaiser questions
If they're not currently accepting new patients, you can join with one MD and switch later (at any time) it's really easy to do online (assuming the MD you want is accepting new patients later on).
I'm down in the bay area, so no recs.
I have been really, really pleased with the quality of care that I've received from Kaiser. I love that I can email my doc or Jenna's pedi and hear back quickly. I love that once my co pay is taken care of any additional testing (example: I had a stress fracture in my foot while pg, so xrays were included in the evaluation copay) The only 'bad' experience I've had is when an advice line nurse told me to get Jenna to the ER because she 'wasn't going to make it through the night'. So, I guess my only complaint is that they were a little, um, over cautious!?
A lot of people complain about Kaiser, but I have to say, I work in the private sector of healthcare, and comparing PPO plans (and experiences) to my Kaiser plan, you couldn't pay me to switch over to a PPO.
I was very sad when DH's company decided not to offer Kaiser anymore. I loved being able to easily get same-day appointments, and having access to (almost) all services in one place. I also loved their mail-order pharmacy!
The pedi I wanted was not accepting new patients when DD was born, but I was able to switch her her later easily.
I usually went to Point West, but my OB was in Roseville and I loved her! Her name is Julie Kelly. She is young, knowledgeable, and proactive and she took a lot of time with me every time I saw her. I loved her NP, also, Kim Marjama.
Good luck!
You can change doctors very easily with Kaiser. Love that feature. My OB/GYN had a "closed panel." However, she will take take patients when they are pregnant. She took me on as a full-time patient after my pregnancy.
I don't have personal recs for the Folsom or Roseville area. I go to the Fair Oaks office. I had first hand experience with the new Women's and Children's Hospital in Roseville. It was a great experience. Quick and easy.
I have loved my care a Kaiser. I have heard lots of people complain, but I don't understand. I love the fact that it is a one-stop shop so to speak. You can see a Dr, get an x-ray, get lab work done, and pick up your prescription all in the same building. I love it!
I have never had anything but Kaiser all my life. So I have nothing to compare it to. We are happy with it, and I especially loved my experience delivering Gavin in the new Roseville birthing center. The main thing with Kaiser is you have to ask for what you want and be pushy about it at times depending on your Dr. We have some awesome Dr. we see out in Lincoln.
Dr. VanDerVeen is my OB/GYN I really love him. He is laid back and that is a perfect fit for me. However, I had BP issues with Gavin towards the end and he was VERY proactive in having me monitored and was on top of making sure we were doing fine. He also called to follow up with me while I was in the hospital with both babies. I don't think that is the norm for Kaiser Drs.
Dr. Merer is our adult med Dr. He saved my DH's life. 5 years ago my DH had flesh eating bacteria. The first (stupid & horriable) Dr. gave him some meds that fed the bacteria and helped it grow. We saw Dr. Merer in Emergency and he treated and preped DH for surgery that really happened right in time as the bacteria had not yet gone into any major organ or gone septic. When we found out he was in Roseville we swithed to him and were so happy when he moved to Lincoln.
Dr. Welsh is our Pedi. We are new to him as I switch when I met him after Gavin was born. I wasn't fully happy with our other Pedi Dr. Don. We were given an weight check apt at 4 days with Gavin and it was with Dr. Welsh. I loved him right away and had heard great things about him from a friend (Ashleyhuney) so we made the switch.
If you aren't happy with a Dr. you can switch at anytime. If they aren't taking new paitients you can message the Dr. and request that they take you but its at the Drs discression at that point. If you do see them for an appointment and are happy with your care but are not assigned to them I'd ask them right then if they will take you. That is what we've always done.
Good luck.
They rotate accepting patients, so sometimes it's just a timing thing. But you can make an appointment with anyone available, they don't have to be your assigned doctor. I didn't even have a doctor for the first couple years (PCP) as I wasn't going to select one off the internet. I still saw whoever had an opening and ended up with my PCP that way.
Same with my OB. I had my annual with an OB, saw her a couple times and didn't like her. My next appt I just said I wanted someone other than her, got an appt with my OB that I have now and absolutely adore. I cannot say enough about her, she is amazing. She is the reason I would never leave Kaiser as long as she's there.
As far as care, it just depends on your doctor, just like in the private sector. I do think Kaiser is more proactive in general as the doctors don't have to deal with insurance covering this test or that test - I do think you get more thorough care there. It's in their best interest financially to be proactive and they know it.
My personal experience has been great. I was so apprehensive about switching to them 7 years ago - it was the only insurance my then employer offered. I was pissed. Now, I have the option of a PPO or Kaiser and I've stuck with Kaiser. Given the option, I would stay with them indefinitely.
The advice nurses are often a little too cautious, that can be a drawback. Just like with any HMO, you need a referral to a specialist, so that's a pain, BUT I have found all of my referrals come through very quickly - like the day after my doctor refers me I get a call from the specialist's office. Wait times for the specialists I've seen are better than private sector, normally just a couple weeks.
I've heard people say Kaiser is fine as long as you're not sick, but let me tell you - I am at the doctor A LOT. I'm not dying but far from an average patient. I have been very, very happy with my care and my daughter's care.
I've had Kaiser since I moved to CA six years ago and love it. I know people who have had problems, but mostly it's been because they think they should just be able to overstep the procedures Kaiser has set up to move a large group of people through a system quickly.
My daughter's pedi is in Folsom, Dr. Trenton Wise. He's great. He's no nonsense when it comes to taking care of her, but he's very gentle and sweet to her as well. He was amazing when I had trouble BFing and got me in to see the onsite LC right away. She is the NP in his office and is amazing as well.
I highly recommend my GP and my OB/GYN. My GP is Katherine Ngyuen. She remembers me from appointment to appointment (which can be months and even a year before). She always listens and takes what I think seriously. My OB/GYN is Jacalyn McKay. She's funny and direct. I always know that I'll get straight-forward answers from her. She's been my OB/GYB through both pregnancies. She was amazing when we lost Ben. The only thing that I don't love so much about her is that she can be a bit militant when it comes to pregnancy weight gain. She will call you out if you're putting on too much weight. It's definitley a good thing, but as a person with weight problems, sometimes her lectures made me feel bad during pregnancy.
I'll second what someone else said about mail order pharmacy. It's great! I've also had good experiences with ER staff, pharmacy staff, and surgeons there. Let me know if you have any questions about my recs.
I've had Kaiser nearly all my life. That being said, I have had really excellent doctors and experiences and have also had some not so great doctors and experiences. That's to be expected though, and I'm confident that my negative experiences could have taken place in any other HMO or PPO environment.
As many PPs have said, it's very easy to switch providers anytime. I don't have any recs for you as I'm in the East Bay, but rest assured if you don't like someone, or really do like someone for that matter, you can change anytime.
I like that I can get DC or myself in to see a doctor the same day, I like that picking up or getting perscriptions mailed home is super easy, I like that my copay takes care of just about everything, I like that I can contact my doctor easily and don't have to rely on nurses or medical assistants to relay the information. I like that if I do have a complaint (and I have) I can take it up the foodchain and will receive a response and corrective action.
Kaiser does get a bad wrap sometimes, but I'm very happy with the service and attention I receive from them.