Not long ago I posted a problem we had with our current pediatrician, if you are not familiar with the story, you can look here.
Well, that was January and I still have not found a pediatrician yet. (yea, yea, I know...but believe me, I am not lazy...its tough, and I have asked everyone...and from what I can gather...not many parents like their pediatrician enough to even recommend them.)
We are kinda hanging in limbo....if the kids are sick, we just call the witch doctor and let him treat them. If they have hanging limbs, well that's easy, hospital. But if they need a well check, or their immunizations, we have nowhere to call or go. So, I am in the hunt for a kiddie doctor...but not just any kiddie doctor....one that contains a certain criteria that I have set in my mind, and so far....no matches. I wish they had a site that matches neurotic Mothers with matching Doctors...and I have the perfect name too:
What's up Doc!
But what is one to do in this situation? How did you find your pediatrician? Do you like him/her?
A request to my good, smart readers....since most of you write blogs that have achieved a reading level well above mine...look over what I am seeking in a pediatrician and let me know if any or all sound unreasonable.
- First off, the office: When I call, I would like a real, live person to answer the phone (politely) and not have to sit on hold for longer than a couple minutes.
- If I am calling because my child is sick, please do not put a nurse on asking me if I have tried this or that. Of course I tried everything else to alleviate the symptoms....who in there right mind wants to make an unnecessary trip to the doctor's office dragging behind one sick and one soon to be sick kid.
- Which leads me to my next request: I understand that there are emergencies, and that one day it could be us needing the doctor right away, but come on. I don't want to sit in a waiting room for an hour trying to keep two toddlers quite staring at that stupid sign that says, "Please, no food or drink in the waiting room." How the hell do you expect me to keep these kids calm....I need to put food in their mouths to stave off the screaming.
- And another thing, if you do take us right back....don't have us sit in that 4'x4' room for, like ever, and then come in and say how misbehaved the kids are at the doctors office. Or next time I am going to lock YOU in a closet for an hour then let you out and see what happens.
- Now that we have the office down, I would like to move onto the most important thing...the guy/gal with the degree.
- When my child is visibly upset because he/she has been here before and understands what it feels like to get needles shoved into his/her body, don't look at me like I am some horrible Mother who cannot quite down her child/children so you don't have to scream. This is how we are, deal with it...that's why our insurance company pays you the big bucks.
- I will ask for advise if I need it...don't offer me your condescending bullshit unless I ask for it...hear me? Stick to medicine, I will screw up their personalities if I wanna.
- When I bring my child in for a sick visit and you say, no meds...I understand. I don't believe in unnecessarily medicating my children either. But when I bring in same said child for the third time and the cough has been lingering, keeping her awake for a month or more....GIVE ME THE FREAKIN' ANTIBIOTIC!
- And when I say, "You know, something just isn't right here." LISTEN TO ME! I am their Mommy, I know!
- Finally, take a moment to understand who we are as a family, know our names, spend more that 3 minutes in the room with us, become a friend to my children. I understand you have a very busy schedule, but so do we...and we have taken the time to WAIT for this visit, so the least you can do is provide us with the time we deserve.
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