I had an appointment a week ago with Eric Hazlerigg on recommendation from my RE and I found that he comes highly recommended on the web. I liked him quite a bit, but the office was a different story. First it was a bit run down and some parts were dirty. The staff was rude, one of the women drawing my blood was speaking spanish to her coworker as she did it all the while they had horrible rap music playing in the blood draw room. I found the whole place to be a bit like a mill with some seriously scary looking people in the lobby. I'm no snob, I grew up in South Phoenix, but the clientele was a little rough.
So here's my question...This is my first baby, so I don't know what it's like to go through a series of OB visits and a birth experience. My question is: is the doctor more important than the surroundings, ie the staff, office, etc or is the total experience more important? Or is it enough to look for another doctor that the surroundings are not very palatable to me? I just tried to imagine myself having a problem there, with that rude staff that was running people through like a mill, I just couldn't imagine if I was haivng some threat to my pregnancy if I could deal with that. I've had 9 cycles of IVF and 7 years TTC, so I kind of imgained that once I did get pregnant that my OB experience would be a little sweeter. So all the moms out there that have btdt, is the doctor ultimately more important or is the whole experience more imporant? HELP I know a lot of posters have recommended CONTEMPORARY CARE FOR WOMEN but they are not on my insurance plan.!
I ended up sticking it out with Comprehensive Women's Healthcare and I'm so glad that I did! I think I was just in shock after being in such a posh environment with my RE's office for so many years (that we paid dearly for), that I was not prepared for what it would be like to go to a regular OB's office. Dr. Hazelrigg is amazing and I couldn't imagine having another OB. He definitely has a way of calming frazzled nerves! The staff warmed up quite a bit after they got to know me and now I couldn't imagine having gone anywhere else!
That office has been my gyne/ob for 9 years...I have never had a problem. There are a lot of doctors there treating lots of patients.
I don't know what you are talking about "run down"....if it was dirty, did you say anything? If the Spanish speaking bothered you, did you say anything? Scary looking people? Maybe you should go to an office in Scottsdale then...
I think it is a combination of both. The doctor is by far the most important thing, because if you don't like or agree with your doctor, your pregnancy could be downright miserable. I also think that it is important to like the practice as a whole. I looked forward to chatting with the nurses I loved, and once my son was born, I couldn't wait for them to see him! Maybe you could try another doctor or two (trust me, if this was your first visit, you have plenty of time) to see if there is someone else that you like a lot that also has an office setting that is more appropriate.
BTW, if it were me, I'd be looking...rude staff and crazy music are not necessarily family friendly! Congratulations and good luck!
I am switching doctors because of the same reasons you mention - inconsiderate staff, run-down office, etc. I haven't seen that doctor in particular, but have been a patient a CWM for 2 years - just for routine exams. I am not satisfied with the care - it seems lacking. And I think it's absurd for you to have to schedule two appointments if you want to discuss two things. For eg: I called and said that I needed my annual exam and pap. They said that would be two different appointments. Then about a year later I was having some breast pain that was concerning. Again, had to schedule two appts for my annual and the pain. It's so they can collect more money - bad way of keeping your customers happy, in my opinion.
With my first I went with a male doctor that came highly recommended. Come to find out, he was just highly experienced - in years that is. It was awful. He never answered my questions fully, did everything w/o telling me what was going on, etc. After my emergency cesarean I never saw him during my 5 day hospital stay because he always came to do rounds in the early mornings when I was knocked out. At my 6 week postpartum visit he went to do the vag exam and didn't even tell me when he was inserting the speculum....and the list goes on.
With my 2nd, I chose a female doctor. She was wonderful! Explained everything, was gentle, etc. We did a vbac. When the head finally came out and there was a double nucal (cord around the neck twice) she was quick and knew exactly what to do. She was so good that I didn't even have to birth his shoulders, she did it for me.
I am sure there are many wonderful male ob's out there, but I prefer pregnancy and birth from a woman's perspective.
I looked at Dr Hazelrigg 3 years ago when I was pregnant with my first son. I too had gone through fertility treatment and when we got pregnant began to look at multiple doctors. The office was run down then but worse I sat and waited to be seen for almost an hour and a half. The woman in the waiting room said it wasn't as bad as normal?!!Then when I was in a room waiting to speak with him I heard the nurse say your next patient is in there but she is just an introductory visit so go see this one first. The staff was rude. He was a nice man but in my opinion I don't have that kind of time. I go to Contemporary care for women. they have a few location. I see Dr Linnerson and like him tremendously. He delivered our first son and hopefully will be delivering our second son in June. The office in Tempe is clean and nice. My son's pediatrician is downstairs, so I can combine visits for after care. I have never waited longer than 15 minutes and when they are running behind they have given me the option to reschedule. All the best and congratulations!!!!!
Tempe Office
6301 S. McClintock Dr., Suite 215
Tempe, Arizona
85283
Phone: ###-###-####
Gilbert Office
2550 E. Guadalupe, Suite 109
Gilbert, Arizona
85234
Phone: ###-###-####
Find an OB office you really like because with your history, you will likely have many appointments over the coming months. May I suggest Contemporary Care for Women (Gilbert and Tempe offices)? Look them up on the web. I've been pleased with this practice for all 3 of my deliveries. R., happily married nurse-midwife mom of 3.
I would change doctor's. You will be seeing a lot of this person and it should be a good experience all around and you should feel totally comfortable. I don't know where you live, but I would drive a long way to get to my gyno, Dr. Joan Warner. She is in Chandler on Chandler Boulevard and Kyrene. Her number is ###-###-####. Good Luck:)
The whole experience is very important, I think you should change Dr.s. There are plenty of excellent OBs out there who also have great friendly staff and comfortable clean offices. For myself I've really liked Contemporary Care for Women in Gilbert (they also have an office in Tempe) Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I'm actually quite surprised by your experience at that office. I've been going there for over 7 years and have not had any complaints. I see Dr. Kudlinski and love her, but Dr. Hazelrigg delivered both my babies and he is awesome too. I've found the staff to be courteous; however, during my last visit I wasn't as please with the women in the blood drawing room. Those women were not the same ones who did my bloodwork in the past. The women there during my last visit were speaking Spanish to each other and weren't as professional as the women who had drawn my blood before. I would recommend you provide your doctor with feedback on them. I will do the same next time I go in next week.
In the time I've gone to that office, they have remodeled. It's a lot bigger than it used to be. I used to have to go somewhere else for ultrasounds, but now they provide that in office, among other services. It's more convenient.
I would recommend you give the office another try. I'm thinking that it gave you a bad first impression, but that you'll like it better the next time. The doctors are superb, so I would give their office another chance. If you still feel uncomfortable, then follow your gut and find another office and doctor. Perhaps you can even ask Dr. Hazelrigg for a referral. Then when he asks you why you want to switch, you can give him feedback on his staff.
Hope that helps!
BTW, I've never had to schedule separate appointments for an annual exam and pap. The pap has always been part of the annual exam for me, so I'm not sure why it was different for Christine H.
I have been seeing Dr. Hazelrigg for almost 10 years and have had both of my children (almost 4 yrs and 7.5mon) while with their office. They have done a lot of remodeling/expanding the office space while I've been there and I do agree that it actually seems a little less nice now. They used to have a bigger area for kiddos to watch movies, play with toys and read books. It also used to be more separated by a cute castle door. I miss that, as I wish they had it when my kids were actually born and with me at the office. While that's not a huge deal, I agree that the rug in the "new" children's area was surprisingly dirty last I saw it.
Concerning the doctors and the care I feel I receive, I feel very well taken care of there. I started seeing him due to abnormal pap and HPV being detected. Dr. Hazelrigg was so helpful. He explained everything well and helped me through a tough time. I then miscarried my first pregnancy, and again felt he was so helpful. I've now had two kiddos under his care. It is hard with a bigger practice like theirs because your baby will be delivered by who ever is on call. Dr. Hazelrigg did not deliver either one of my kiddos. :o(
That being said I absolutely LOVE Dr. Hazelrigg, the care and service I get there. But you have to do what you feel is best for you.
I think you should find a new doctor. If the office is not clean and the staff is not nice don't put yourself through that. You have had enough stress already. I look at it like this, if this was a restraunt would you go back? Healthcare is a business but, you are paying the bill so choose someone you feel comfortable with. I personally have had a great experience with Southwest Womens Care. Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy!
I've never worked with your doctor. However, I have four children - my first delivered by an on-call doctor because my OB/GYN was never to be found. I never saw her when I visited, just the PA and Nurse Practioner.
My last three were delivered by Dr. Lepetich at Contemporary Care for Women. He used to be located in Tempe but moved out to Gilbert. I like him so much that I traveled from Central Phoenix during my whole pregnancy. He's awesome!
Lepetich Steven M MD
2550 East Guadalupe Road
Ste 109
Gilbert, AZ 85234-5114
###-###-#### – ###-###-#### (Fax)
(Guadalupe & Greenfield)
careforwomen.net
They have six doctors and four nurse practioners there. I've had to see two other doctors due to emergencies during my pregnancy and they were just as great as him. The facility is always clean and very family oriented.
I had one appointment with Dr. Hazelrigg, and I agree with your assessment - the office staff wasn't that great, the wait was long, etc. However, I have heard great things about him as a doctor.
I decided to go with a homebirth midwife, and I have been extremely happy with that choice. Much better prenatal care, longer appointment times, no office staff at all (always dealing directly with the midwife), and better safety record than in-hospital birth. I will never be going back to an OB.
Additionally, I have heard some really bad things about one of Dr. H's partners, but I won't print that name publicly.
Blessings on your upcoming birth!
First, congratulations! Next, since you seem to like the doctor, I would ask if he had another office. I would not stay there. Cleanliness is very important. Also I remember when I was pregnant that the staff at my OB/GYN seemed to be even nicer and more attentive than when I would just go for regular yearly visits. This is a time that you should cherish and not have to worry about how clean everything is and if the staff will be rude to you. I do not have any recommendations for another doctor since I had my children on the east coast, but I would recommend changing offices or doctors.
