- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Indiana Babies
OB/GYN Practices - Advice Needed
Need your opinions, ladies. My OB/GYN is in a small practice inside Community North. When I had my first "what's wrong" appointment, I felt so rushed and felt like she just breezed through it all. Nice woman, I just wasn't very comforted and left feeling confused about the testing even though I think I'm pretty with it most of the time. When I had to do my CD21 bloodwork, it wasn't done in her office but rather I had to go to the Mid-America Lab. I didn't really care about that, but each time I have something done it seems to add up.
When I had the HSG done last week, her office scheduled it but there was some mix-up with the paperwork they were supposed to fax. My 9:00 test didn't happen until 11:00, but I'm not totally sure this was their fault. My OB was not the doctor who did the HSG, just some random guy who shook my hand and then started shoving things here and there and yonder.
Now they will be scheduling my D&C, but she again is not going to be the one to perform it.
The office hours are 9:00 - 4:00. Three times now I have had a call from a nurse there past 4, with instructions to call the office back. However, by that time an answering service has kicked in, and I can't reach anyone until 9:00 the next morning even though in a couple of these instances they had literally just left a message on my phone. Annoying.
Does all of this seem weird to anyone else? For those of you who have doctors in the Community Health Network (or work there), have you had similar experiences where your doctor hasn't been the one to do your tests or attend to you? Or do you think it's time for me to bail and find a new OB before I actually do get pregnant? I'm just wondering if I'm being realistic with my expectations. I've heard great things about this doctor and really do like her.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: OB/GYN Practices - Advice Needed
I go to an OB affiliated with Community North and LOVE her. She's always been the one to do all of my appointments. I have always had to go to MidAmerica for my labs, but usually go to the one in the hospital in the lobby or there's one right across from their office at the Community Medical Pavilion at 131st and 37. She's the one that ordered the inital lab workup and US to diagnose my PCOS. Their office has an U/S tech and all U/S are usually done with that technician.
All that being said, I would tell you that if you're at all uncomfortable, then I would go ahead and switch OBs. You're going to be spending a lot of time/money with your OB both now and when you are pregnant. I wouldn't go to an OB that I was unsure about (whether it's the actual OB or how the office is run, where labs are done, etc). If you want a recommendation for another OB within Community Heath Network, I LOVE Castleton OBGYN. I go to Dr. Ertel, but have also seen a couple other OBs there as well. I always saw my OB at my appointments (unless she was out of town) and she delivered both of my girls due to scheduled inductions. She's great, but I hope her practice isn't the one that you're concerned about. :-)
Good luck with everything. I hope you're able to get pregnant VERY soon!
Mother's Day, 2011
Melissa - It's not Castleton OBGYN, don't worry.
I want to deliver at Community, so I will definitely take that advice if my next few appointments don't go a lot better. Adorable siggy, by the way!
Andrea - very good point. This is just the beginning of my questions- I guess it's good that I'm finding these things out before I'm locked in.
oh yeah, I'm getting Community and Clarian North confused. sorry!
I was also going to tell you that I learned more about IF stuff on the IF board than I ever did from my RE. I tend to want to understand the details. Most doctors don't have the time or desire to explain,lol...
I see Dr Henderzahs at Community North. I didn't have issues with IF, but I was a "high risk" pregnancy for my entire 3rd trimester. I was there 3 times a week! Anyway - it was always Dr H that saw me (except for 1 NST/check up where he was doing a delivery downstairs and they offered to let me wait, reschedule or see the new doctor.) And he always personally called the MFM to check on my ultrasounds and things I had done down there.
However I did have to have any lab work done downstairs at the Mid America Lab.
I loved delivering at Community North and I love Dr H. If you don't like your current doctor for sure switch - you could be seeing them just as much as you see your own DH!
Lindsey, obviously I don't live there anymore but given what you've described, I'd switch. IMO, it's never too late to switch OBs if there are that many red flags...and you'd be doing it at the right time if you did it now. Yes, you've already started the process with this doc, but you'll be so glad.
Hell, I switched OBs (right before I got pregnant) because my old one - who was the nicest, most patient, caring person ever - made it sound like there was something wrong with a cycle that was longer than 28 days.
GL! Maybe you'll be like me and your first consult with the new doc ends up being your first prenatal appointment. ;-)
If you're not comfortable with the policies of the practice -- switch. However, I think you do need to be reasonable in some of your expectations.
My OB was at Clarian North, but I had to go to an independent lab outside of their office for all of the testing throughout my pregnancy, from random blood tests to ultrasounds to the gestational diabetes testing. I have never known a physician to draw blood or do any testing themselves. Independent labs have the resources to do the testing, not the doctor's office.
My doctor's office is open 8-4:30, so not much better hours. Unless it's an emergency, I do not expect to receive a call back after hours, even if they had just left me a message minutes beforehand, which has happened to me as well.
My concern would be that someone else would be doing the D&C and your feelings of being rushed and confused by the doctor. But isn't a D&C something that needs to be scheduled right away? If the doctor can't fit it into her schedule and it needs to be done, someone else will have to do it. If your doctor leaves you feeling confused or rushed, say something to her. If you don't get the response you want, switch practices.
I have since switched OBs and one of the reasons was that I did feel rushed at every appointment.
Good luck!
I go to Dr.Stuhldreher who is part of Clearvista Women's Care at Community North. Love her, love the practice, love the hospital. My insurance at work changed recently, and I think we're actually going to get private insurance so I can stay with her.
I saw basically their whole practice while I was in the hospital with the twins, and I really liked all of them. I always saw her in the office though (except for a week where she was on vacation.)
You can get your labs done in their office, or downstairs at MidAmerica. I did both, just depending. (I'm a hard stick, so sometimes the MidAmerica lab is better, since their lab techs deal with more hard stick patients.)
Laura sees Dr. Box and loves her (I saw her quite a few times in the hospital and I love her too) and Maggie sees Dr. Bemenderfer and loves her too. (I only saw her once or twice, but she was definitely great also.)
My RE, Dr. Moghadam, just moved to TX, so that's no help to you.