Pediatricians - Dover,DE

I would change peds. I know Tricare is a pain, but you do have some options. I don't know what are you live in, but there are several FANTASIC pediatricians at Bethesda. I drive almost 40 miles each way to take my kids there because I think the standard of care is way above what we found at the Fairfax clinic. If you want some names of docs up there, just let me know.
S.

I'm with the other mom's on this one. I don't let anyone make multiple mistakes with my child. I actually had a civilian pediatrician fired from a military facility for the same thing. You can go online and look up pediatricians on the tricare website. Keep shopping until you find one you like. Best of luck to you.

Hi J.,

I would go to a new Ped. Find out who your friends use, or get recommendations from people you trust. I wouldn't stand for numerous mistakes when it comes to the health and well being of my girls. You need to be an advocate for your children.

Hope you find someone great.

Take care,
D.

J.,

Please change pediatricians! What you do know about this one is all bad! Our previous pediatrician missed a diagnosis for my daughter, making comments about how I was doing something that was causing her "rash". When actually my daughter has an inherited skin condition. It is not serious, but the fact that they told me it was my fault is unforgivable.

Get out of there before it gets serious. And make sure they know why you are leaving!

Use mamasource to ask about pediatricians covered by your insurance.

K.

I think you should switch doctors. This is your child's health and you shouldn't have to worry about how accurate the doctor's diagnoses is, you just need to be able to trust him/her 100%.There are good ones out there, or at least the ones you can trust. I think you should listen to your instinct and take her somewhere else.

I would ask for referrals to a different pediatrician. To me, there is no excuse for any doctor, much less a ped to screw up & still get my business. Not when one of my kids could be hurt in the process.

I would definitely find a new pediatrician. You have to be pro-active with your child's healthcare, which it sounds like you are. You could schedule an appointment to meet with a new pediatrician just so that you can interview them. There is nothing wrong with that, and you definitely shouldn't feel bad about it. This may sound silly, but that is what I did when we were not happy with our dog's vet.

If it is bothering you enough to ask the question, I think you should try another practice. You can always go back!

You don't give a lot of detail, but you could also try talking to the office manager and doctor owner (if they aren't the source of the prolem). I think a big thisng in dealing with any doctor is not just what they do, but how they respond to problems and follow-up. YOu could see if they can ease your worries.

I happen to love my pediatrician. But there is one nurse who is sort of dopey, "not on the ball." I love the doctors, and she is okay, you just have to probe her more than I wish. I can live with that because I am satisfied oveerall and I feel I can deal wiht the small deficiencies I have noticed. If you can't or if it is major - forgetting to run a test, losing a result, missisng an appointment, etc. you need to try elsewhere.

---Saw your update. If you haven't already considered it, maybe see a family doctor/PCP - might have more options near you??? and a lot of PCPs are great with kids. As I said, depending on the issues, it may be fine if you continue to be attentice. However, I still feel it might put our mind at ease to try a different place. Good luck!

The health of my children is so important that cost aside I would find the best doctor I could. There are many resources for you. Ask friends, go on to mom chat rooms to see if there are other great docs in your plan and area. Also, there are many options if you go out of network. Do you have a FSA option? Finding a doctor that you are comfortable with should be your top priority

This is not someone that I would trust with the health of my child. I research everything including the information that is given to me by my physician but I don't feel that this is somethig that should have to be done each and everytime that I take my children to the doctors. You should really consider changing physicians, even if that means driving a few extra minutes to a pediatrician who accepts your insurance.

I would move on right away. It's crucially important to trust your pediatrician wholeheartedly. You will never know when that next mistake could be a life altering one.

You do not specify what "things" your ped has made errors on but based on what you have written I would suggest going to someone new that you know nothing about. It sounds like your current ped you have lost confidence in and if that is the case you do not have trust in that relationship. If anything should ever happen that would be more serious you would blame yourself. Why don't you do some research on the dr you know nothing about, maybe he/she is really good and you would be happy with the new dr.

J.,

I know you have read multiple postings to change MDs, and I agree. Let me tell you a short story...

I have adopted 2 little girls and both were being seen by a pediatrician chosen by thier birthmother. When they came to us, the youngest was still on formula and just switching to cereals and fruits. We noticed that anytime she ate she would scream trying to get poop out within 20-30 min. This child turned purple and it would often take a full 10 min just to move her stool. This pediatrician felt there was no problem with this scenerio. I live in Baltimore, so needless to say, I have more options than you do, and changed pediatricians right away. Our new pediatrician looked at her for abt 30 sec. after I explained my concern, and saw that she had a minor abnormality in the positioning of her anus. This is a very minor issue, but makes it more difficult to go poop until the muscles in that area strengthen. She needed a mild stool softener for about a year - no issue now that she is 3. My point is that if a doc is missing the obvious stuff (something that can be seen by anyone who picks up the child and looks), what else is being missed?

If you are under Tricare now, and your options are limited, you might want to see if switching to Tricare USFHP will help open up more options. If you don't trust your pediatrician, than you will spend all your time doubting every time she tells you that your child is looking good - forget about when she tells you that somthing is very wrong.

Good luck. I don't envy your position.

S.

well will going to a ped that you know nothing about be any worse?? It may only be minor things that he has missed but next time may not be , and as it has happened more than once then it's not just a one off.

J.,

I would definitely switch to someone else. It is important to be comfortable with your childs doctor...and confident. Is there any way you could talk to friends, neighbors, anyone in your area for referrals. Sometimes word of mouth is a good way to find someone good. Good luck!

J.,

I have had to switch pediatricians several times over the course of my kids lives (the oldest is 15). While the switch was because we were moving, I was always wary of trying new doctors. I went to two pediatricians on a trial basis and loved them. The ped we have now, I told him up front that I wanted to just try him out. They let me have the appointment and guess what, the dr. is wonderful. It is a wonderful office with amazing staff. I did research, talked to neighbors and friends etc. All recommended this doctor, but still, I was nervous about switching doctors. It was the best thing I ever did for my kids!! I absolutely would NOT stay with a doctor that I did not trust or who made mistakes with my kids! Research, call, be proactive!!

I'm not sure what is available in your area, but my adult MD is a family practice MD and sees children. Maybe that is an option for you.

I would definately not stay with a pediatrician who has made multiple mistakes. Are the mistakes coming from the physician directly or from the office staff/nurses? I would research the other physicians that your insurance company covers. Also ask other parents in your area of who they take their children to. You need to be 100% comfortable with all of your/your families healthcare providers. Don't be afraid to shop around when it comes to health. I hope this helps.
There are also other types of healthcare providers who see children, such and family practice md's, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, primary care MD's, etc-- look into those areas as well.

Leave. It's that simple. I went through several GYN's because I kept having irregular pap smears, but you know the office doesn't call unless there's a problem so I never got calls and one day I go in for something else and they mention that my last pap was irregular and "did I have that taken care of?". Needless to say, I was gone. And then the next gyn did the same (now this was the office staff vs the doc but still), even when I called to verify results they always got bitchy with me saying the same thing. And on more than one occation, it was irregular and they didn't call me. 3 offices did this to me!!! So I kept moving around until I found an office that was responsible and a doctor I liked. We've moved to several counties but I kept this same doc even though it was at one time a 40 minute drive to see him. I didn't care. He was that good and his office is that great. I've been seeing him since 1994 and have always recommended him to others.

A good doc not only lets you feel like your being protected by them doing a good job, but it also keeps you protected! You always have to keep an eye on things, I mean, people do make mistakes, no one is perfect, but if you keep finding mistake after mistake, it is not worth the risk to you and your family for what might just happen next.

I know insurance companies are often limited, but protecting you and your family comes above the inconvenience of switching and maybe switching to a doc that isn't as close or whatever.

I'm not sure where you are, but I can recommend our pediatrician (they might take your insurance??). We LOVE LOVE LOVE them and not only do several of our friends go there, so do one of my brothers and his family.

Let me know!!

Jules

J., there is no way that I would stay at a dr.'s office that has made so many mistakes. Even though your choice of pediatricians is limited, I would take the time to find another one before an irreversible mistake is made.

Hi, J. -- I wanted to just add something, especially since you mentioned how you truly have no option to shop for a new doctor easily. First, if there is only one other ped. in your small town and on your plan, yes, I'd try there, but be aware that that practice may not be accepting any new patients--some practices are "full" and don't take anyone who isn't already an established patient. I've experienced that if you want to see a pediatrician because your kid's sick, and you're not on their patient list, they often won't see you-- it's off to the overcroweded "urgent care" for you. If you want to make the switch, you couldn't do it when your daughter's sick and needs to be seen right away; you'd need to go in to that office, check whether they're taking new patients, etc.

Second, if you are forced by your location and insurance to stay with your current pediatricians, be sure you have documented every time they've made a mistake! It may be late now, if they've been doing it for a while, but sit down and make detailed notes of everything you can remember--the dates, symptoms, what they said, meds they put her on, results, etc. And on all subsequent visits, carry a notepad and pen, and make detailed notes of everything you're told by everyone, nurses, doctors, etc. Don't be intimidated if they seem uncomfortable with your note-taking! These notes mean you have the best possible information in the event you have to come back to them and say, "We've got a problem here." Finally -- what are your plans once your husband retires? Are you staying in the same area? Access to better health care, for all of you, could be a consideration for what you do after his retirement. Good luck and continue to be an advocate for your kid--you're doing that already!

J.

I am retired AF (single, adopted 3 girls) + absolutely would NOT continue to see a doctor I didn't trust (had one Peds Dr @ Maxwell AFB + then a GP here at Bethel Clinic [Langley AFB]). I would specifically request a new PCM if you are not happy with the one to which you are assigned. You don't say where you live, but if you live near Yorktown, I can recommend a good civilian dr (tho' she is not a Peds Dr, she was our family dr for over 3 yrs + my youngest daughter is 5yo special needs). She was a contractor dr at Bethel Clinic + is now civilian -- she will be accepted into the TRICARE Prime, hopefully some time this month. We will change from mil dr to her -- even tho' it'll mean a $12 co-pay. She is that good! Remembers everything + wonderful bedside manner. I actually teared up when she said she was leaving mil employ + going private. Now that she's in the process of working thru the Prime paperwork, many of us will "follow" her. Please let me know if you're interested.

J. V