Would you switch doctors?

I have been with my current OB/GYN for about 5 years and while I love my primary doctor in the practice and like most of the other doctors in the practice, I cannot stand the office staff. They are rude, unprofessional, and immature. When speaking with them on the phone, they have such a snarky tone -- like they are doing me a favor by booking an appointment or getting my lab results. They delivered my daughter at LIJ Katz 3 years ago and we are currently going through IVF in hopes of having a second. In the event I get pregnant again (fingers crossed!), I am considering switching practices. In addition, 1 of the doctors in the practice that I like and see the second most often just dropped her OB license and is now only a practicing GYN, so I wouldn't see her during visits.

Would you switch practices solely because of the office staff? I'm torn. If the answer is yes, I need OBGYN recommendations! I would like to deliver at LIJ Katz or North Shore. I live in Farmingdale and work in Roslyn, so the office can be located somewhere reasonably close to either location. Thanks for your feedback!

Re: Would you switch doctors?

That's tough. But if you do end up switching, I would be sure to let the doctors in the practice know the reason.
They need to know that the people who work for them are causing them to lose patients (aka business)
that is bullshitt
I don't know where some of these medical office workers get their attitudes from.
Really.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I probably wouldn't if I liked the doctors and the care I was getting. But I am super lazy with doctors. And I think good ones are hard to find, and I think a lot of doctors have office staff that leave a lot to be desired. I don't know if they are overwhelmed with insurance, paperwork, etc., but in my experience, it's really rare to find pleasant medical office staff.

However, I would definitely mention it to the doctors you see, if it's an ongoing thing and not a one-time event of someone being rude. The doctors should value patient feedback. Truthfully, if a staff member was being really overtly rude or speaking to me in a way that I thought was unwarranted, I might say something to the staff member directly (depending on the circumstances, and it's hard to say without concrete examples, but sometimes a polite but firm "there's no need to speak to me in that tone" will do the trick and make them check themselves).

Also, I would switch if you think it would cause undue and unneeded stress during your pregnancy.

And I think it would depend on what exactly the office staff is doing that is less than ideal. If they are just impatient/curt on the phone or not the most friendly/courteous when you sign in or something, I'd put up with it. But if it's hard to get questions answered or get an appointment, or you have trouble getting lab results and other necessary info, then I would switch (and have switched) doctors for that reason.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I had a similar situation with my kids pediatrician. I LOVED the doctors but the office staff was a little disorganized and not always so helpful. They screwed up getting Rx's called in to the wrong CVS time and time again. I finally decided to leave. The doctor who ran the practice called me to ask why I wanted their records moved and I was honest and told him. He appreciated my honesty and admitted there were a few problems. He said he would welcome us back at any time if we weren't happy with the new place.

Fast forward 6 months and one of the doctors at the old place popped up at the new place. Apparently there were more problems than I realized.

It was a hard decision but I'm glad I made the move. GL!

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I wouldn't leave over it. If it's really awful, then maybe say something to your OB.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I would absolutely switch.
I can tell you from personal experience and recently changing OB/GYNs, now that I'm with a good office with good drs, the level of comfort and confidence I feel is priceless.

Feel free to FM me if you want recommendations, etc.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I left my primary care doctor years ago for this very reason. I loved the DR but his long time receptionist was so rude both over the phone and in person. She was also extremely disorganized. She sent a bill I paid to collections, after I sent her 2 copies of my bank statement showing a check they cashed for that date of service. She told me I was lying that I never sent her copies meanwhile I not only mailed, I also hand delivered one to her. I told the dr why my husband and I were both leaving and he said he wished we would have told him earlier.

If you want to stay you should speak to the dr directly. If you really aren't loving it there look somewhere else before the next baby.

Would you switch doctors?

I have changed MD due to office staff and I told management why I was leaving, I would do it again

Re: Would you switch doctors?

A good dr is hard to find BUT there are also so many drs on LI. I'd mention it at your next appointment and if things don't change, consider changing. BUT, realize that a lot of people complain about bad office staff, so you may not actually be trading up, particularly if you love the drs.

If you do decide to change, consider Women for Women in NHP. They are literally next door to LIJ. I wouldn't say I LOVE the office staff, but I have never had any complaints with them either. I've been at the practice for about 4 years and they delivered my DD.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

Knowing me, I would not. But the front desk of my OBGYN was really awesome - not saccharine sweet, but empathetic and great with patients. The wait time on this doctor was sometimes around 2 hours (insane!!) but she would have me call, tell me the wait time and I tell me to come later. I have little time or patience, but I think her attitude made things better and I really liked her. I think that is partly the reason his patients do not fret over insane wait times. He is in Hicksville, part of ProHealth, right off the LIE: Dr. David Eysler.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

If it were me, it would be a matter of how much I like the doctor. If I LOVED the doctor then no, I wouldn’t switch (but I may consider saying something about the lousy staff).. but if I felt my experience could overall be better somewhere else and didn’t have a strong feeling either way, then I’d leave.

My GP has terrible receptionists. Really awful. You show up and it’s like they’re pissed they had to come to work and even madder that you showed up- but I love the doctor.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

I would not change if I liked the doctor.

I mean, that’s the reason you are there. I’d just roll my eyes at the staff and be very firm with them. I’d probably even ask them why they are being rude, but that’s just me.

Would you switch doctors?

Probably not, unless they started interfering with patient care (not giving messages, messing up test requisitions, etc)

I delivered at north shore and love my doctor (and staff) but she’s in Bayside so kind of far from you.

Re: Would you switch doctors?

Yes I would. You don't need the added stress....

Re: Would you switch doctors?