How did you find your doctor?

pinktrojanbride120107 · May 2012

After a week of trying to get my OBGYN's office to call me back, I was told I should come in asap for an appointment (I'm on CD83 today with no end in sight.) I called back right away to schedule, and the first appointment available is 6/26.

Total face palm, right?

I know it's time to find a new doctor, but I don't know where to start. Where did you find yours? Are there any websites with good reviews of doctors? Feeling totally overwhelmed.

MrsCisco222 · May 2012

So sorry you're still waiting.

My aunt is my OB's nurse, so that's how I found her. My suggestion would be to talk to other women in your area. Friends, family, co-workers, whoever. Find out who they suggest or who they have bad things to say about. Best of luck finding a doctor that suits your needs. I hope it all works out!

Edit: Forgot to add that I don't know of any websites, but would be interested in finding one too. I have to change docs when TriCare kicks in. Ugh.

nkemp · May 2012

That is ridiculous. I would call back tomorrow to ask for a walk-in appointment or get on a list to have them call if someone cancels. I would not take no for an answer. My on referred me to my re. I don't have any good resources but wanted to say I'm sorry.

raashton · May 2012

I'm sorry sweetie! How very frustrating!

I second asking family member and health cites.

If you have a GP, you could ask for a recommendation. That's how I came to find mine. I also googled reviews of them before making my appointment.

I hope that you get in soon! Or you could hound your current OB for potentially any cancellations.

kiki4 · May 2012

My gyno from Austin used to practice here and gave me a couple of recomendations. Have you tried posting the question on your local board?

HopingforChange · May 2012

I had an appointment for my 8 week check-in during my pregnancy, and I miscarried before that. So, that appt turned into hell, but that's the OB I've stuck with. He's a very nice man and a good doctor who performed an excellent (as far as I can tell) D&C, but he's definitely older and not up to date on new technologies, procedures, etc... He recently referred me to a specialist, who I meet tomorrow. Oh, the original OB I chose because it's the only large practice we have here (95 percent of my city seriously goes to this practice), and I wanted somewhere with resources if I had a pregnancy emergency (ha) and somewhere with a doctor always available for deliveries (again, hilarious).

pinktrojanbride120107 · May 2012

nkemp:
That is ridiculous. I would call back tomorrow to ask for a walk-in appointment or get on a list to have them call if someone cancels. I would not take no for an answer. My on referred me to my re. I don't have any good resources but wanted to say I'm sorry.

That's so smart, I didn't even think of that! I'm calling them tomorrow for sure!

pinktrojanbride120107 · May 2012

kiki4:
My gyno from Austin used to practice here and gave me a couple of recomendations. Have you tried posting the question on your local board?

Also a good suggestion, thanks, kiki!

kiki4 · May 2012

pinktrojanbride120107:
kiki4:
My gyno from Austin used to practice here and gave me a couple of recomendations. Have you tried posting the question on your local board?
Also a good suggestion, thanks, kiki!

You're welcome! I hope you find someone who can get you in before the end of June.

killian09 · June 2012

Here are some ideas:

If you like your PCP, asking them for a rec is an excellent idea.

I found my doctor by having my DH ask his coworkers for recs, since he works at a hospital. I realize that doesn't generalize well, but if you know anyone who works at the hospital where you want to deliver--even secondhand--it is worth asking if they can find an OB rec for you. I've been asked more than once for a friend-of-a-friend to ask my DH to recommend a doc within my DH's area of specialty, and he's always happy to steer them towards people he thinks are exceptional.

The other suggestions about checking local boards is a good one too.

As far as getting your appointment, just don't take "no" for an answer. Call them back, insist that the doctor or nurse told you that this is urgent and you really need to be seen in the next week. As kiki said, ask to be put on the cancellation list. Also, call them back every day to see if they got a cancellation/opening.

But I agree it is time to find a new office--one that can manage to call you back.

StephNordenmalm · June 2012

My current doctor was referred to me by a goo friend. Then I looked him up on line and decided to go! I ended up loving him. Before I moved I was referred by my family doctor, she was pretty good to. Do you have a primary family doctor? Ask for their opinion?

buckeyebaby814 · June 2012

When I was looking for a new OBGYN last summer I started off by looking for doctors on my insurances website who were covered, within 60miles. Then I googled their names. Not fool proof I know, but there's several doctor review websites out there and when you google their names, the sites pop up! Let me say, my OBGYN completely lived up to her reviews and more!

Did you make the 6/26 appointment? It may take some time to get into a new practice. I know I found my new doctor this time last year and I didn't get in for a month. HTH and good luck!

LSzwaya · June 2012

When I had my very first BFP, which ended in my very first m/c, I just randomly picked an OB at the hospital I knew I'd want to deliver at. They have a ton of OBs so throughout the years as I have had appts for DS and for my other losses I tried out different ones and have built up a small group of OBs I really like.

DaisyZH · June 2012

I had a recommendation from my co-worker and then I double-checked and they were covered by my insurance.

One nice thing about them is they have two locations, so I've had good luck getting same-day emergency appointments at the lesser desireable location. I think sometimes it's easier to get in to larger practices, although sometimes that backfires and it's harder to talk to a real person sometimes.

Good luck, I hope you can either get in sooner or find a new doctor.

psychmajormom · June 2012

I found my mine through my aunt, she was high risk and dealt with m/c so I got lucky on my OB. Like pp said, ask around, friends, family, etc.... I also dont know any good review websites, but in my case Google was my friend

rlajambe · June 2012

I went to our Women's Hospital's outpatient clinic. At the time, I was not concerned about who my OB was. When my condition was discovered, I was re-assigned to our current high risk OB (also the Head of Obstrietics at the hospital).

A larger practice such as that could be beneficial as they give you options. Ratemds.com can be useful.

mgh2008 · June 2012

I'm sorry they can't get you in sooner. That is ridic. Does your doctor have an email address that you know of? I would try emailing him/her or their nurse if you have that. Sometimes if you can talk to them directly and not the scheduling dept. that helps.

I have been to three different OB's for all three of my pg.'s. I was not happy with the first two, that I found on my own, so I basically just started asking everyone I knew who they went to, and what they liked about their doctors. My friend who told me about the doctor I am going to now just had to tell me that she had the best bed side manner of any dr she had ever seen, did not make you feel like she had no time for you, felt like a friend and had been through a few losses of her own. I was sold.

I hope you get in sooner. Good Luck!!

pinktrojanbride120107 · June 2012

Veganlady:
The only thing I can think of that wise PPs haven't already covered is Yelp.
What is it with OBs? It seems a ton of us have a hard time getting in to see ours. Is this a specialty-wide problem with them?

Seriously.

buckeyebaby814 · June 2012

Veganlady:
The only thing I can think of that wise PPs haven't already covered is Yelp.
What is it with OBs? It seems a ton of us have a hard time getting in to see ours. Is this a specialty-wide problem with them?

I honestly think it has to do with the practice. My old OBGYN was hard to get into, my new OBGYN- once I was established after my consultation- was easy to get into.

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