Looking for a Really Attentive Great Pediatrician

I don't think I've ever heard of a pediatrician who will call and check in on a patient. In this day of managed care, it's as rare as a hen's tooth to have more than 10 minutes. I love my doctor at Peachtree Park Pediatrics near the old West Paces Ferry Hospital in Buckhead. It's a drive from East Cobb, but they're very loving. The nursing staff is incredible. They do have a nurses hotline and they call you back regarding specific questions you may have. They will not, however, call you to just "check in."

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I switched from a typical large practice (Northside Pediatrics) to Dr. Kute at Chattahoochee Pediatrics.
It's just one doctor, but she has been much more available than any other doctor I've heard of.

The typical practice gives you an "after hours" number or a nurse hotline. Dr. Kute gives you her cellphone number. It rings in her bedroom - I know because I woke her up once.

AND, she's an IBCLC (board certified lactation consultant) - no more lousy breastfeeding advice from well-intentioned pediatricians who "support breastfeeding" but are so clueless that they completely set you up to fail. ("You have a cold? You shouldn't be nursing when you have a cold - give him formula for a few days until you recover.")

Also, I've called the office to ask a nurse a simple question, and she may ask me to hold, and I actually get Dr. Kute.

And she doesn't mind if you want to nurse your infant while they do the injections, and she understands that breastfed infants don't have the same growth curve as formula-fed infants, and... and... and...

We really love her! (Oh - she *is* in Alpharetta, a bit of a drive, but you'll probably only go a few times a year now that your babe is 18 months)

2 moms found this helpful

I'm not sure which pediatrician's you've tried but we use Piedmont Pediatrics. They are at the 105 building of Piedmont Hospital. Our pediatrician is Dr. E. Griffith and she is absolutely wonderful. The rest of the peds in the practice are great too. I have a 2 1/2 yr old and 3 month old. If you need their number let me know.

E.

1 mom found this helpful

You probably should scratch MDs altogether. They're not trained to be that way. They're trained to push drugs and make you feel stupid, because they think they're lifesavers...I beg to differ!!

If you must have an MD...seek out a holistic one that's going to treat you and your baby like living beings that have a mind, body, AND soul. If you're not pressed about MDs, find a good ND (Naturopathic Doctor) who won't tell you it's okay to poison your child.

A good ND-Dr. Maureen Melendrez (not in East Cobb...if you do a google search you'll find her), a good integrative/holistic MD-Dr. William Richardson (I believe he's on Cobb Pkwy.)

Be Well,

~S.
www.PreventionIsKey.biz

1 mom found this helpful

Dr. Susan Staviss - Kaleidoscope Pediatrics on Johnson Ferry Road - phone ###-###-#### - She has been my 16 year old daughter's pediatrician for years. We love her and actually followed her when she left the original practice she was in to open her own. We drive 45 minutes to see Dr. Staviss!

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I second the referral to Dr Kute. I LOVE her - she is very gentle, supportive of parents choices and extremely knowledgeable :)

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I also live in East Cobb and have a 18 month old girl. We go to Dr. Philip Weiss of North Atlanta Pediatrics, which is over by the King and Queen buildings. It's not the closest practice, but I really like the doctors there. It also helps that he's my OB/GYN's pediatrician. The office # is ###-###-#### and their website is http://www.northatlantapeds.com/index.html

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Dr. Kirsten Mekelburg and Dr. Julie Segal's practice on Mt Vernon Hwy is the best. We switched to them when my son was 2 because all he did was cry at other office. Now he smiles when we go there. We use Dr. Mekelburg personally and she is so great with my son, now 4. Their number is ###-###-####.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi

I moved to the area in Nov 2007, tried PAMPA, since they are so close and we needed appt for school entry. My expriences have been real positive there so far. We have been for a few appts due to ear infections, etc. Once we got to see Dr Morgan, I requested him for future appts. He seems to be genuinely concerned and takes time with our visits to answer questions. It is a large office, but I like that as we too get in easily for sick appts. It is the location at:
2155 Post Oak Tritt Road
Suite 100
Marietta, Georgia 30062
###-###-####

I am a married, working mom with a 6 yr old daughter and 3yr old son. Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful

I use Spectrum Pediatriacs (Dr. Kola). WE LOVE HIM. He always calls me personally (rather than having a nurse call). He has even called me at 10 or 11 pm to give me test results a few times. Last winter my son had a rough time. We were going out of town for Christmas so I took him to see Dr. Kola before we left. Dr. Kola called me on Christmas day to check on my son. He has also given me his personal cell phone number. I have never met any other Dr. that is so attentive. I HIGHLY recommend him. His address is 3104 Creekside Village Drive, Suite 504, Kennesaw, GA 30144. His phone number is ###-###-####. You can't go wrong with Dr. Kola:) Let us know how the search goes and good luck:)

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I know you are looking in East Cobb, but I love my pediatricians in Roswell. The office is called Pediatric Physicians, and they are off of Crabapple Road just North of Crossville. (East of Alpharetta Hwy.) I have 3 friends who also take their kids there. The Dr. I see the most is Monica Marlow, (Young and loves her job) but all the Drs in the practice seem to be great! They have many in the practice, and have great nurses. When I had a problem, they were quick to call back.
My son is 8 weeks.... and my friend's kids who go there are 6 months, 3 years, and 18 months.

1 mom found this helpful

East Cobb Pediatrics off Johnson Ferry Road (across from the Woodlawn Publix. We have seen all of the Docs there and have had very positive experiences. Dr. Gadea is our preference, but all Pediatricians there are wonderful. My daughter (2yrs) had mild health issues when she was 9month old and it lasted for many months. They always took great care of us!!

Best of luck!
M.

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I go to Northside Pediatric and am very happy. They are located on P'tree Dunwoody rd by Hammond Drive. I usually see Wendy Greenberg or Jeffrey Hopkins. I also like Dr. Zubler. Good luck! D. D

1 mom found this helpful

Dr. Colon is really great we would still have her if she took our insurance. She over next door to Kennestone Hospital.

Her nurse is really nice and talking to her was like being a part of a family she was always helpful never thought a question of mine was stupid. The doctor never acted that way either. She also called me back the doctor herself.

I think it is expecting too much to have your doctor call you at home to check in on your child. In this area, anyway. This area is just so busy and doctors here have SO much on their plates, no one is going to have that kind of time. Perhaps, if you lived somewhere more rural and less crowded...

If you question the Miralax suggestion, question it. Part of the responsibility is the patient's -- to ask questions and even challenge doctor's opinions. Doctors are highly-educated guessers. We're going to their offices with a problem that they must try to solve. They go by what they've learned and experienced and give us answers. Sometimes, they are mistaken.

(If yours son has chronic constipation, though, the Miralax really is a completely appropriate suggestion and could save him lots of problems later. A lot of kids use that everyday. It's not for the rest of their lives and it is safe. (Daily use of Miralax is a lot safer for your child than chronic constipation.) You could google "miralax and children" or something like that to learn more. Some adults use it daily and some have gas pain but that doesn't seem to be as much of a problem for children. As far as less medicinal suggestions, cut out dairy as much as possible. Like no cheese or yogurt -or switch to soy yogurt - and milk only once per day. Lots of fruits and veggies. Whole grains. Keep him well-hydrated. http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/treatmentguides/co...)

That said, if you feel like your pediatrician doesn't really care about your child, you should find someone who's personality you like better. A great place to go for referrals is your pharmacy. Pharmacists and techs hear all about patients' doctors and how they feel about them.

Good luck to you!

I saw someone else recommended East Cobb Pediatrics, too. We also live in East Cobb and we love them there. We go to the office on Johnson's Ferry, but they also have an office in Kennesaw that some of my neighbors go to. Between my three kids, we've seen all of the doctors there and nurse practitioners, and there is only one N.P. we do not care for. All of the rest are great. My daughter was hospitalized for six weeks over the summer. East Cobb Peds called us quite a few times just to find out how she was doing, and if they could do anything for "us". I didn't know this, but most of the doctors and nurses knew about my daughter's situation, and when I would call the office about something, they would always ask how she was doing. They have been fantastic there, and I would recommend them to anyone.