Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

Last week, I called my pediatrician in the middle of the night because my DD was vomiting. We go to a group practice and the doctor on call was not one that we have seen yet. I was asked if she had a fever (she did not). Told that if she vomited again to call them back. She did about ten minutes later so we called and the doctor told us to take her to the emergency room.

Thankfully, everything was okay and my daughter is feeling better. However, I am upset because no one from the doctor's office called to check on her. I had expected that within the next day or two someone would call to see how she was feeling. Am I wrong? She is my first child so I don't know what is typical. This has really left a sour taste in my mouth.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

I don't go to a group pratice but take my dd to an office with just one ped. My ped always calls to check on dd if I had to call during the night, if she was really sick and had been seen the in the office. She even called after my dd had tubes put in by the ENT. I don't think its the norm for peds to call though.

I use to be with a small group(4 drs) and they never called. They also had the philosphy to go to the ER for everything. My dd has asthma and my ped is really good about trying to keep her out the of the hospital. I feel like just for vommiting unless its extremly excessive I can't see making a trip to the ER JMO.

Hope your dd is feeling better.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

We use a group practice & whenever we used the emergency line, we never got a call back the next day from the drs to check on the boys. Honestly I would not expect it.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

I would be concerned that they sent me to the ER with only 2 vomiting occurrences (how old is your DC?) with no fever. Unless the vomiting was excessive (big concern that there was dehydration). My peds usually tell me what to do for my DD and what signs to watch for if there is concerns about dehydration and at what point I should bring them to either the doctor or the ER. They would never recommend I go for vomiting 2 times. (I hate the ER and only go with emergencies - because there are so many germs I only want to be there if it is a last resort).



Did the ER tell you to follow up with your ped? They might be figuring you will follow up with them. They might have figured they would hear from you or they heard from the ER who said that your DC was doing well and not felt they had to follow up.

I haven't used the night service for the group I currently have thankfully. I can say that with my old ped he didn't have an answering service and he answered calls at night. If he didn't have me bringing my DD in the next morning he would definitely have called just to touch base. We had one instance where DD#1 had spasmodic croup - and he stayed on the phone with us for several minutes until we were sure she was doing better and didn't have to go to the ER and then called us back about 20 mins later and then called back the next morning. Although DD#1 had another time where she had severe hives all over her body and facial swelling and he gave her too small a dose of meds and told us he didn't want to see her. I took her to PM peds who told us it was a bad reaction and they were glad she was seen. I immediately switched peds - and am glad I did.

My personal feeling is that if something makes you uncomfortable you should find a new office. I say this because you are putting your child's health in their hands and if you don't like their policies or their judgement you won't trust them to take good care of your child. If it makes you uncomfortable that they didn't call back unless you really love them - I would find a new office.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

My place has an on call nurse that calls you back when you call in middle of night. The office always calls back that next moring to check on child or to set up appointment if needed.
I go to a big practice, about 8 doctors.

Message edited 3/4/2012 1:51:41 PM.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

I wouldn't expect a call unless you called them asking something specific.

They probably sent you to the emergency room because you called twice and seemed concerned and there's not much they can do overnight. Either wait to make the appt the next day or go to the e-room. But I also wouldn't call the afters line for one vomit with no other symptoms. Glad your dd is ok :)

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

Our ped. is just him and his NP.
We always get a call back the next day.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

when we had to bring DS as anewborn to the ER one nite, the PED did follow up with us, as I believe the ER notified them.
(The hospital also followed up a few days later with us after our visit.)

the last time we called the oncall dr and they told us to go the ER was last june and DS had an ear and resp. infection..I dont recall the PED calling us back.

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

Re: Is this normal? - Pediatrician related

I personally wouldn't like that they didn't check in. I recently left my practice for a single practitioner and she even calls to check on them when they have ear infections.