Would you switch pediatricians? (Long)

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

I actually really love DS's pediatrician. She was recommended to me by my OB when I was pregnant, and she's great. The thing is, we can't stand the nurse. Pedi is in practice by herself and only has one nurse, so it's not like we could request to see a different nurse.

DH and I never really liked the nurse, but we didn't really have major complaints against her. Just her personality and minor things. For example: when DS was having sleep issues, she insisted that him waking up frequently in the middle of the night was my fault because I drink one small cup of coffee in the morning (DS is BF), which she was sure was affecting him 15+ hours later. It wasn't until DH (who is a doctor) told her that the half-life of caffeine is nowhere near that long that she finally backed down.

Today we took DS to get immunizations (we've been spreading them out a little more and not quite following the typical vaccine schedule), and when she took his temp, it was 99.2, which she insisted was a fever. (DH says it's not considered a fever at only half a degree over the normal body temp, and DS's temp has been very slightly higher than "normal" at almost every well visit.) She also claimed that he felt "warm to the touch," but when I felt him, his forehead felt normal and his cheeks felt cool. She asked all of the standard "is he sick?" questions (decreased appetite, increased fussiness, etc), and the answer to all of them was no. So she said she had to ask the doc if he should get immunizations.

She came back and said "Dr. X says that he shouldn't be immunized today. She said that if he were only getting a few shots, it would be ok, but because he's supposed to get six shots, we should wait." He very definitely was not supposed to get six shots, which I told her, so she showed me the list he was scheduled to get, which included his second flu shot, Hep B, and four others. I told her that he had already gotten his second flu shot and that he had already had all of his Hep B, but she disagreed with me. I had his immunization record in the car, so I started to go get it, but she said that there was no point in me getting it since he wasn't being vaccinated today anyway and that I'll have to bring him back later this week.

When we left, I checked his immunization record, and I was right - he had his second flu vaccine in November, and he got his third (and final) Hep B vaccine in August. Also, one of the other ones she said he was supposed to get was one we were delaying, and we already have the appointment for him to get it at his one year well visit in February. So although the pediatrician was the one to make the call not to vaccinate today, she did it based on the nurse saying that he was due for six shots, when in reality he was only supposed to get three.

I really like our pediatrician, but I'm irritated with her nurse. It's one thing if she's just voicing annoying opinions, but it's a bigger deal if she doesn't keep track of the immunizations she has already given him and then tries to give them again. If he hadn't had a "fever" today and if I hadn't been keeping track, he would've gotten three flu shots and four Hep B vaccines.

Should I complain? Switch peds? She's the only nurse in the office, so I feel like it might just be awkward if we complain about her. But I also like our pedi and don't want to necessarily switch because I don't like the nurse. Plus, our pedi lives in our neighborhood, and we run into her when we're taking walks, so it would be kind of awkward if we just left with no explanation. Not that that's a reason to stay with a pedi if they suck, but she really doesn't. What would you do?

Sonadora · January 2013

I would switch, not because the nurse sucks, but because of the apparent inability to keep records. I would not be amused if the pedi office tried to administer shots already received.

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

Sonadora:
I would switch, not because the nurse sucks, but because of the apparent inability to keep records. I would not be amused if the pedi office tried to administer shots already received.

Yeah, that's the part that makes me most mad. But I think (not totally sure) that the same nurse is the one who does the record keeping since it's such a small practice, so I think the record-keeping issue is also the nurse's fault. She is the one who fills out his immunization record and makes a copy of it at each visit.

Manateearmz · January 2013

Have a talk with your pedi about the nurse. If you see no change in staff or attitude I would switch. Bad nurses come and go, but if you're happy with the physician I would give it a try to tell them how unhappy you are with the nurse before switching.

Ms5586 · January 2013

Sonadora:
I would switch, not because the nurse sucks, but because of the apparent inability to keep records. I would not be amused if the pedi office tried to administer shots already received.

Probably this. The fact that they can't keep accurate records is concerning. Maybe talk to pedi about it?

ASmallWonder · January 2013

Sonadora:
I would switch, not because the nurse sucks, but because of the apparent inability to keep records. I would not be amused if the pedi office tried to administer shots already received.

Definitely this. This goes beyond a nurse problem. The doctor has a responsibility to ensure accurate medical records and it clearly isn't being done. Not all parents have the memory you do or records at their finger tips. Yes, we should be our kid's advocate but there should be a certain level of trust that their records aren't completely inaccurate, you know?

[Deleted User] · January 2013

GhostMonkey:
Where the hell was the pedi while you were going over if his immunization record was correct? She should have been front and center for that and ready to lay into the nurse for fuvcking that up. And been told exactly how high is "fever" was before making a decision. That should have been discussed face to face with you, not relayed through the nurse.

Complain and switch. There are a ton of red flags getting thrown up.

Um, this. Where IS the pedi during your visits? It sounds more like you see the nurse for visits, not the doctor. If you had agreed to or wanted to see a Nurse Practitioner, I'm sure you would have. It sounds like that's what's happening & you didn't agree.

You are supposed to be seeing the pedi. I'd decline any further visits/interaction with the nurse & insist on actually seeing the doctor. At that time, go over all of thisshit. Even if you leave the practice, he should know WTF is happening.

In any case, I too would leave because of the way this practice is run.

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

BostonKisses2:

If that's the case, you really need to speak up. The pedi needs to look into that and address the issue.

You're right. If it's happening with us, it might also be happening with other parents who don't keep track themselves. That didn't occur to me until just now.

rakle99 · January 2013

You should talk with the pedi and tell her what is gong on. I had an issue like that with my PCP. They were extremely rude, interrupting and yelling at me over the phone. After she ended up ordering some incorrect x-rays because the staff did not relay my messages correctly, I spoke with her and told her what had been going on. She was furious. She told me that she was upset that I called her office for help and didn't receive it. The office staff is much better now, so I know she took care of it.

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

GhostMonkey:
Where the hell was the pedi while you were going over if his immunization record was correct?

Because we've been spreading out his vaccines more than normal, we don't see the pedi at visits that are only for vaccines. We see her at well child visits and sick child visits, but not at the "extra" visits that are for shots and nothing else. I don't know if that's normal or not, but I do know that for my best friend - who is also spreading out the vaccines between more visits and who goes to a different pediatrician - it works the same way. On days where she's just there for vaccines when it's not a well child visit, she only sees a nurse. DS has a well child visit next month, and we will see the pedi then.

[Deleted User] · January 2013

GhostMonkey:
greeneyed_bride:
GhostMonkey:

Where the hell was the pedi while you were going over if his immunization record was correct?

Because we've been spreading out his vaccines more than normal, we don't see the pedi at visits that are only for vaccines. We see her at well child visits and sick child visits, but not at the "extra" visits that are for shots and nothing else. I don't know if that's normal or not, but I do know that for my best friend - who is also spreading out the vaccines between more visits and who goes to a different pediatrician - it works the same way. On days where she's just there for vaccines when it's not a well child visit, she only sees a nurse. DS has a well child visit next month, and we will see the pedi then.

I don't giveafuck. As soon as that inconsistency was noted, the doctor should have been invovled immediately.

Also, anytime a nurse decides to play doctor. Get the real doctor. A simple statement like, "I'd prefer to speak to the doctor please."

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

GhostMonkey:

I don't giveafuck. As soon as that inconsistency was noted, the doctor should have been invovled immediately.

Oh, I thought your original question was why we didn't normally see the pedi on vaccine visits - I was answering the wrong question. You're right, she needs to know about the vaccine record. I have to go back in this week to get the vaccines, so I'll insist on talking to her then.

klondikebar · January 2013

I'd want to see his office records to determine if she was reading the information incorrectly or the office is keeping innacurrate records. Either way, this can affect other patients as well and it should be brought to the attention of the pedi. If she is just being an idiot, I'd insist on seeing the pedi for all future appointments and ignore everything that comes out of the nurses mouth.

RondackHiker · January 2013

I'm glad you're going to tell the pedi about the vaccines and records issue. That could be VERY dangerous. If you feel it's dismissed, I'd report it to the board in your state.

If she or he addresses that, then I'd stay and just ignore what the nurse says. In the case of "he has a fever and cannot get the shots", I'd ask to speak to the pedi myself bc you were under the impression that 99.2 wasn't a fever. 100 degrees is a a fever. If your pedi didnt ask the temp of the fever, she deserves a side eye. If she did and the nurse lied... The pedi needs to know.

quidditchcapn1120 · January 2013

The doctor needs to know about all this. It sounds to me that the nurse wasn't relaying information truthfully or at all, especially if you normally have no concerns about the pedi. Ask to talk to your doctor directly before switching and give them the opportunity to fix the situation.

lrn327 · January 2013

Manateearmz:
Have a talk with your pedi about the nurse. If you see no change in staff or attitude I would switch. Bad nurses come and go, but if you're happy with the physician I would give it a try to tell them how unhappy you are with the nurse before switching.

Yep, all of this. You could chat when you see her outside of the office. Maybe that might be easier.

greeneyed_bride · January 2013

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'm supposed to call back Wed or Thurs if DS's "fever" is gone to go back for the immunizations, so I'll ask to talk to the pedi then. Because I was busy being irritated, I didn't really think of the fact that other moms (specifically moms with more than one kid who might find it harder to keep track of who got what shot when and how many times) might not realize that their child is getting a vaccine more times than necessary. I'm guessing that our delayed/more drawn out vaccine schedule is part of what is screwing the nurse up, but that's obviously not a good excuse for not keeping good records.

RayRay007 · January 2013

GhostMonkey:

Where the hell was the pedi while you were going over if his immunization record was correct? She should have been front and center for that and ready to lay into the nurse for fuvcking that up. And been told exactly how high is "fever" was before making a decision. That should have been discussed face to face with you, not relayed through the nurse.

Complain and switch. There are a ton of red flags getting thrown up.

Yeah, I would've insisted on talking to the pedi when the nurse was being argumentative. The pedi probably made the call based on incorrect information from the nurse. However, if you really like the pedi I'd talk to her about the nurse and record keeping issues and see if it can be resolved.

jlw2505 · January 2013

I would have an honest conversation with the pedi and leave. It is hard but the nurse in an office does so much. My family has recently left a small dental practice due to the office manager and the dentist who I really liked, called me personally to talk about and didn't seem at all surprised with why we were leaving and did ask if there was anything she could do to change our minds. I left feeling fine with our decision and we will start at the new dental practice (a larger practice with better hours and a few dentists plus an ortho on site) in June when we go next.

Wufroggy79 · January 2013

I would tell the doctor whether or not you decided to stay or go. The doctor may be unaware of how she is treating patients. The nurse doesn't need to know it came from you. More than likely, she is treating others this way.

MJHershey · January 2013

Sonadora:
I would switch, not because the nurse sucks, but because of the apparent inability to keep records. I would not be amused if the pedi office tried to administer shots already received.

the pediatrician needs to keep better tabs on his nurse so that she (pedi) does not make a mistake base don the nurse's idiocy that could have very bad consequences.

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