I had to make one of the most heartbreaking decisions yesterday. I fired our pediatrician. I still get teary thinking of it. He is an amazing doctor. It was the office staff that caused me to fire him. I believe in a 3 strikes you’re out rule. I hit the 3rd strike yesterday.
The first big negative thing that happened was when I finally get health insurance for Rachel. For some reason the insurance company is saying that there is insurance but the office wouldn’t accept it. It’s been a 3 year struggle over $300 to pull an eraser out of her ear!! $300 for that! Insane!
The second thing is that this doctor is in very high demand. He is absolutely amazing. So he is slammed. I tried to schedule their well child checks. We do them together every summer. Well, they couldn’t get them in until the middle of September. September!! 3 months. That does not work when Matthew needs a shot before he starts school and school starts in the middle of August!
And the 3rd strike…the most heartbreaking…they wouldn’t allow Rachel and Matty to go into the room together because Matty is over 13. I explained to her that Matt was mentally handicapped. We always put them in together. He watches what the doctor does with Rachel so he knows that it is no big deal. Then he has his turn and it goes very smoothly. The receptionist would not budge. She said it was a policy that was passed last year. Children over 13 have to go in alone.
I made the September appointments and then I sat and stewed. The more I thought about it the more pissed off I got. I conferred with Kevin. He totally sided with me on it. I knew then that I wasn’t being overemotional. I know I can do that at times. I called our family physician to see about transferring them over. I was able to get them in on July 7. And this receptionist actually ASKED ME if I wanted them to go in together! Score!
Therefore, I’m making the transition to the family doctor earlier than I anticipated. I do plan on writing a letter to our pediatrician saying good-bye and explaining why we switched over early. It still makes me sad. I have a huge history with this man. He was the one who found the fragile x in our family. He has been there through it all with the kids. But it obviously is time for us to move on to different pastures.
(And our family doctor and the pediatrican grew up together so I know they will happily swap information to help with my kiddos 
)
I must say my heart skipped a beat when all I saw on Facebook was, “fired.” I was ready to drive there and kick butt!! Anyway, I completely agree that an office’s staff can make or break an experience. I am having a few issues with mine.
It’s so sad when an office stuff ruins things. It shouldn’t be that way.
I am sure that was a hard move to make.
I’m sorry for the reasons that led you to it, but so glad you’re empowered enough to make this decision for the good of your family.
IRRITATING!!!! I had a few issues with our pediatricians office, before she moved to another office, they always tried to force Cal to take his shoes off and get weighed. FINALLY one day, I just flat out said “NO!” My pediatrician happened to be walking by from one room to the next, and she actually sort of giggled when she heard me telling them “HE WON’T TAKE HIS SHOES OFF!” She calmly told the nurse, it was not necessary to weigh him; and all was good. Since then, she has moved to a new office with new staff….fortunately he doesn’t have to go to the pedi much anymore; but when he does; they are much more cooperative! THANK GOD!
So much for the parent’s know best huh.
Yep. Not a fun thing. Our pedi who diagnosed our fragile x just left her mom’s practice to open one in a city too far for us to go. She’s the reason we went to this particular office. I don’t really care for the mom doctor or her bedside manners. I had a run-in with the staff over a couple of things, but they are now extremely good to me. You’ll read one of the issues in a blog I intend to write….if I ever get on it. It’s not easy finding a new pedi that even has a clue to what fx is. So until one is found, we’re still going to the same office. Sorry you had to ‘fire’ him.