Not sure what to do about pediatrician

As everyone knows, my 5 month old is in the hospital. I'm not thrilled about her pediatric practice, specifically how they failed to diagnose her flu and RSV (didn't even test her for either) and their lack of communication since we've been here (one of the residents mentioned they called once a few days ago).

I'm just wondering if I'm overreacting or if this is common.

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

No, I thought the same thing based on your original post but obviously didn't feel it was my place to say anything to you, nor did you need to hear it from us on your OP.

BUT since you have mentioned it, I couldn't BELIEVE it.

What I wanted to ask was - did they not test or 02 levels in the office? My daughter had pneumonia in August and I brought her in when he breathing became shallow and crackling - I knew something was up and they IMMEDIATELY checked her 02 levels before and after the in office treatment. They didn't just do a treatment and not check her levels.

I would be BEYOND LIVID if I were you and I would DEFINITELY be looking for a new ped.

Sorry you are going through this!

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

They couldn't get a good reading with the pulse ox.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

You should absolutely switch. Go with your gut. I switched over something much much less serious and happy I did.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch. I would expect the pediatrician to be at the hospital to see your daughter as well. If they do not have permission to practice at the hospital she is in I would expect that they at the very least call you

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

My daughter is 6 weeks old and was in the hospital with RSV at 11 days. I brought her to the pediatrician for a weight check on Friday and mentioned that she had a stuffy nose. At that point that was all she had so they didn't test her for RSV. By Sunday she had gotten much worse and when I called them they told me to bring her to the hospital. When she was in ICU someone from the practice came every day. The pediatricians don't have a say in their care when they are in ICU but they still came. It was reassuring to see a familiar face and hear from someone I trusted. They didn't have to be there but it meant the world to me that they were.

I would absolutely consider changing practices. I still travel to Great Neck from Wantagh bc of how caring they are with my children. I think it's just as important as their medical knowledge. I'm praying for you and your little girl!!!

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

Way diff scenario but this just happened to my BFF

Her 2 yr old son had what she was certain was the flu

Went to ped. He wouldn't test for it saying if it is,nothing can be done and he doesn't believe in tamiflu

Next day he got worse and she went to on pediatrics and he has the flu

She was angry he refused to test him

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

Oh and I would totally switch if I was you

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I would be very disappointed they did not come to see her or at the very least call daily to see how she was doing. I would switch.

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Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch as well. Sorry you are going through this.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch. Not bc they haven't come to check on her but bc I think my trust in them would be lost. I wouldn't want to be second guessing every diagnosis which is what I know I would do.

When I had my second and she was in the nicu I called to let my ped know and was told by the office staff to just call back when she's discharged. It would have been nice for one of them to pop in since they're in the hospital but they didn't. I understand they don't have any say in treatment and I guess they wouldn't want to get in the middle of things when they aren't the ones treating her. I do think it's different in your when they're the ones who initially saw her but to an extent I still get it. I'm sure some parents would be looking to the ped for an opinion on the course of treatment and they wouldn't want to be put in that position.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

Was it mid Suffolk ped group by any chance?

Sending u good thoughts. I would switch and tell them why. I think it's good to tell a practice why you are changing so they can make improvements on their end.

Message edited 2/22/2016 6:42:27 PM.

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

Just the fact that the baby wasn't tested for the flu would be enough to switch IMO. My children are always tested for flu, even if it's just a common cold.

Without a doubt, I would switch peds.

Even if this wasn't my opinion, I have a feeling you will not feel confident in this practice, and that alone is enough to change.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

Switch. Like another poster mentioned the trust is gone. I know i would 2nd guess them. I want a drs office that cares.
When my dd had rsv we were blessed she didnt need a hosp stay but she was tested when i went in saying she was wheezing and sounded congested. They tested her for a few things. They took her o2 levels twice. It was over xmas. They called me every other day to check on her. And reminded me if i became at all concerned with her breathing bring her right to the hosp if the practice was closed and call them right away.
They should have been calling or sending someone to check on you. A good dr would.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would switch too. I wouldn't trust them anymore.

Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I would 100% switch. And 110% tell them why.

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I would switch because I would always second guess them and the care my children were getting from then on. I need to be able to trust my doctor.

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

I had a somewhat similar situation. My son (who is now 10.5m) was rushed to the ER at 3.5wk old. He couldn't breathe and was turning blue. He had Whooping Cough. Was in the PICU and step down unit for 8 days. I brought him to the Peds office on a Friday afternoon because he had a cough that sounded so terrible. I felt like something was off. We saw a Ped within the practice that I had never seen before, she was fairly new and she looked super young (not that that's super important or anything) and I was nervous cause she didn't seem too concerned. By 10pm he was turning blue and gasping for air. Tested positive for pertussis. My husband was FURIOUS . Like wanted to go to the peds house and knock her door down. But I KNEW that if it was the Ped who's practice it was who saw us, things would have been caught earlier. So the Peds who's practice is it came up to the hospital at 630am that next morning (he wasn't officially admitted until sometime during the night) and was so SO apologetic . She came up every single morning to check on him and called us every night. We spoke about what about happened and how I was thinking of leaving because I felt that new doc brushed off my concerns etc. we agreed anytime I had an Appt I would only see the main Ped and no one else. I've been with that practice for 6yrs and this was the first problem we've ever had , albeit a HUGE problem, and I felt comfortable knowing I would be taken care of by the Ped we started seeing from day 1. So far things have been good and I haven't even seen that other Ped in the office ever. Maybe she's not even there anymore idk lol

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Do they have privileges at Stony Brook? If so, I would be pretty damn furious that they haven't shown up.

My DS was 5 weeks old when he was hospitalized and a doctor from my peds office was there every single day to see him. As a PP said, it was so comforting just to see a familiar face there showing genuine interest and concern for the baby. If your doctor doesn't have privileges there, they obviously can not be there but at the very least, they could have given you a call. I would switch.

Re: Not sure what to do about pediatrician

As far as testing for flu/rsv in the office: the guidelines do no recommend routine testing for flu and RSV outside the hospital setting. Thankfully for most kids flu/rsv have a self limited illness. For a normal average health kid there's no way to tell which kid will end up intubated in an ICU and and which ones will do fine. So I wouldn't be too hard on your pediatrician about not testing.

As far as lack of communication: different pediatricians approach the ICU differently. It's a closed unit, meaning that medically they don't have much to offer. From a emotional standpoint it obviously helps to have your pediatrician in your corner to navigate these rocky waters. In my ICU some pediatricians are very involved and others not so much. there can sometimes be "wires crossed" between the pediatrician and the inpatient team with phone tag back and forth. That being said I do find the better pediatricians tend to be more involved.

As far as how you feel, it's common for parents of kids in the PICU to feel like you do since hindsight is always 20/20. I often joke that my job is easy: the kids come to me really sick and I just have to fix them. The pediatrician in the office sees 100 kids with a cold and one of them is going to be really sick and they have to figure out which one it is.

Good luck! I'm pulling for your daughter! My wife is more of a regular around here but told me about your story which I've been following and hoping for the best.