I am 37 wks pregnant with my 1st child, and I have had a rocky pregnancy. FINALLY, everything is looking like it's under control, and the baby is gaining weight like he is supposed to. I had my weekly check up today, and on the way out, I went to book my 38 and 39 wk appts with the receptionist. I am usually seen on Tuesdays at 10:30, but for my 39 wk, I am not available. I asked if there were any appointments on Friday of that week. The receptionist tells me, "Oh, no. Doctor will be on vacation and not available until mid August. You will want to see her before then. Can you come Thursday?" I was like, ummm...EXCUSE ME??? My OB is a solo practitioner and has NEVER MENTIONED that she has a month long vacation out of town planned 5 days before my due date. I just stood there sort of sucker punched and asked, "Ummm, well, who is going to be covering my delivery if she is going to be gone for so long?" The receptionist just kept saying, "Oh, Doctor will talk to you about that at your next visit." I asked point blank if coverage for the practice had been arranged. I would like to know the name of the person who will potentially be covering my delivery. The receptionist said she couldn't answer that question, and just kept insisting the doctor would speak to me at my next visit. Finally I said that i was not comfortable waiting until I was 38 wks pregnant to find out who would be delivering. I wanted some time to see who the person was, potentially meet them and review his/her credentials. I asked that my doctor give me a call back some time today at her convenience...haven't heard a word.
I just can't believe this. She knows my due date. Apparently this vacation has been planned for a while. I feel like she had an obligation to notify me that she would not be covering my delivery as soon as she knew and then I would have had the option to find another practice or accept whatever arrangements she made. It's not like the person covering her is part of her practice or has access to my medical records. Trust me, I know that doctors deserve vacations-I am a doctor myself. But, in preparation for my maternity leave, my active patients have received letters stating that I would be out of 6-8 wks and my partner Dr. XXX would be covering. Any of my patients that potentially were in need of surgery or would be in a recent post-operative period when I go out were all notified at their 1st visit and offered referrals to other MDs if they were not comfortable, I will also be available to my patients via phone message and email during my maternity leave. I just don't feel like you walk away from a patient without telling her and giving her appropriate time to make decisions about her own care and evaluate the coverage you put in place. And certainly, I don't think that you find out from the receptionist when you schedule your next appt. My father is an OB/Gyn, and we used to plan our family vacations almost a year ahead of time. He told me that when he accepted new pts into his practice who were due around the time of his planned vacation, he told them at the 1st visit and he also had partners to cover him who worked in the same office.
I called another OB's office this afternoon who came recommended by a close friend, and I plan to call my original MD tomorrow to request records be sent and all future appts be canceled. Am I overreacting? Any thoughts?
Thanks all for being a sounding board. After sleeping on it, the conclusion that I came to was that I am going to keep my appt with the new OB and check her out. I've decided that regardless of what my current OB has to say about the situation, I feel too disrespected to remain in her practice. Also, regardless of what happens, I most likely am going to be delivered by someone I don't know well, so I'd rather have 2-3 wks of a relationship than none at all. Also, it will be nice to have a familiar face for my post-delivery care...someone who will have seen and rounded on me in the hospital.
To those of you that point out that even if she were in town, she could potentially get sick or not be available when I deliver, you are absolutely correct. That is something that I have definitely prepared myself for-MDs aren't omnipresent superhumans and have lives of their own. However, this is different to me. This is a planned pleasure vacation, apparently one that has been on the books for a while that all the front office staff knew about. Her decision not to disclose this nor her back up plans, to me, is insulting and disrespectful, and there isn't really anything that she could say that would change this. To those of you that point out that the RNs do most of the work, yes during passive labor, that is the truth (but really isn't it the mom :-), Between medical school and residency, I probably did 200 deliveries myself. I definitely know how it works. However, it's the MD who is there to make critical decisions...ie operate vs. no and handle any crash csection, episiotomy vs no etc. Really, it's the surgical decision making that concerns me if it comes into play. I want to know the character, experience and depth of knowledge of the person making those calls about my body (I guess being a surgeon myself, I have some control issues with that). If there was an emergency, my doc wasn't available and I got the on call MD, well, that's life and thank God someone was there. I've been that emergency surgeon for plenty of people when I covered trauma call. BUT, this isn't an emergency situation, and she could have just told me and given me the opportunity to meet the person who would be covering for her. AND, for crying out loud, you can return your messages daily...again a sign of disrespect.
I think my reaction may have been less harsh if I hadn't had issues with this office before. There has been a good deal of miscommunication with this staff and the MD-ie once ordered a test/procedure for me that I didn't need (that the MD didn't want) and didn't find out until after the procedure was done, lost one appt (forgot to write it on the schedule but had given me an appt card), twice gave me incorrect instructions for preparing for other tests (NPO vs not), and twice calling over a week late to report abnormal results that required prescriptions. I chalked this up the front office staff being incompetent. The MD seemed very competent, so I just dealt with it because ultimately there was no real damage, To me, these were all honest mistakes-not great that they happened, but not malicious.
Thank you all for your input. It really helped me sort out that I am not crazy and hormonal in my thought process.
Bottom line - she should have told you about the month long vacation before now. You are absolutely in the right and NOT overreacting.
Good luck finding someone new. You may end up liking them better!
Best wishes.
I completely agree with you. It is a sign of disrespect. You should have been told way before now about this impending vacation, especially in a solo practice.
Absolutely NOT!! You are not overreacting at all!! I would be LIVID. I believe that his behavior is highly unethical. My sister had the same scenario happend to her almost 4 months ago. This was the first time I have ever heard anything like that. I thought that it was such an isolated incident. It is very shameful that medical doctors have such a poor patient manners. Leave that doctor and NEVER, NEVER look back. I wonder what would the Medical Board say about that??
I'm scratching my head on whether you are over reacting or not. I completely understand how you feel. If the receptionist wouldnt have let the cat out of the bag today what would you say to the doc at your next appointment when she then decided to tell you she wasnt going to be present at delivery? OR, consider this as well because it does happen: You go into labor and your doc just happens to be sick with the flu or something and doesnt show up for the delivery---SOMEONE else would deliver. Packing up your records and going to another OB for only a few more weeks is just about like having a stranger in the delivery room anyway. I'm guessing your current OB's stand in is quite capable and probably will already be informed of all the patients he/she will be seeing during your doc's absence. Might be best to stay where you are but tell your doc you think she did you wrong by not preparing you for this sooner. Maybe at your next appointment she's going to introduce her sub to you? Try not to jump to conclusions. Your baby is gonna come no matter who is at the end of the table to catch it, trust me :)
I think you reacted in a calm, logical, and very generous manner (considering that you gave your previous OB the benefit of the doubt by offering to confer with them right then and there and then ALSO gave them the opportunity to out things to rights by phoning you today at a time more convenient if she was unable to speak to you right then.
Despite 2 opportunities, you were blown off (3 if you count the appointment itself). Rather than just crossing your fingers, you proactively have arranged for your care.
That's not overreacting. That's logical.
I don't think you are overreacting at all!!! Your statement, "I would have had the option to find another practice..." is exactly why the Dr. didn't tell you. I have a feeling there will be lots of upset patients who leave. I would go to someone else.
I sorta agree with GrandmaT, and at the same time completely understand why you are upset, but also wonder how you would deal with it if your OB was sick or busy with another delivery when your turn came. I know some women get pretty attatched or fond of their Dr and its a personal thing we all feel differently about. Gosh its such a special time and we want the person who treats us as special as we feel, to be there at the time. Sometimes it just doesnt work out. I think being my age, and having kids way back when, we sometimes just took what was dealt to us and figured thats what you get. In the military service, you saw whatever Dr was there and you may never see the same Dr twice. Its different in the outside world but still no guarentee so, you should think how this will effect you.
Will you feel comfortable with a Dr you meet 3 weeks before you deliver? Will you hate the experience if you show up and get "whoever" for delivery? Will it cost more to switch now?
Will your insurance cover this other Dr?
Do they deliver at the same hospital or clinic?
If you think about it, who really does the work all the time you are in labor? Nurses were there the whole time with my daughter when she had her baby 4 years ago. Nurses were the only ones she saw all day and when it came time, the Dr walked in, and in less than 1 minute, decided she needed a c-section. He then had several assistants in surgery with him and he pretty much did the incision and pulled the baby out. So when it gets down to it, you might check out who the labor and delivery nurses are instead of worrying about which Dr might or might not be there when precious baby comes!
theres no other practitioner! when your dr isnt available, the oncall dr at your hospital delivers. in your experience, you wouldn't treat patients this way. your father wouldn't treat patients this way. i don't think you are overreacting.
Yes, I'd be upset to have such short notice. I would try and talk to your doctor about it but I can absolutely understand switching immediately under the circumstances. BTW, I also switched from an Ob to a midwife in my 8th month and it worked out okay. It is important to have a practioner you trust.
Heck YES! I would be LIVID!
Yes, she had a obligation to tell you this! What a crappy Dr. she is!
Simply outrageous.
I would *maybe* give her one more call in the morning but if still no response I would go ahead and get established ASAP w/ new Dr..
I'm sorry. What a crappy situation. :(
Best wishes!
Wow, very unprofessional and definitely not what I would want to hear that far along in my pregnancy! I can't for the life of me figure out why the physician would not have told you to your face. My sister's OB had an out of state wedding to attend the week of my sister's due date and let her know at her very first visit that there was a possibility that she might not be the attending physician. Even THAT was stressful to my sister, so I cannot imagine it being sprung on you like that.
I don't think you are over-reacting. If anything, I think it is a good lesson for you to teach the doc. If this is how the doctor treats a fellow doctor, just imagine what "regular" patients might experience!
Overreacting?!! This is outrageous for an OB/GYN to not inform you of her vacation schedule when it coincides the dates you will potentially be delivering. Just completely irresponsible. And compounded by the fact she hasn't called you back (and that the office has conducted themselves in a less than stellar way all along). As a doctor and the daughter of an OB/GYN yourself, I can't believe you are questioning your reaction.
You want (and deserve) a great doctor whom you have met and feel confident with -- and who has every intention of being there for your delivery. And you want to know who their back up is and have met with them as well (and feel confident with their skills and credentials).
I wouldn't hesitate for a second going elsewhere == it's clearly a necessity. And I'd be furious with the office for being so irresponsible for keeping you in the dark as to your doctor's schedule. I would think there are legal requirements for doctors with regards to informing patients as to their vacation schedules. And every OB/GYN sole practitioner I've ever met with (in interviewing them) has told me at the very first meeting what doc/docs cover for them. The lack of transparency here is really stunning
Move on and don't look back (especially since the only positive thing you have to say about this MD is that she "seemed competent"). Find someone whom you've heard rave reviews about (as you state -- you want a doctor who can perform superbly in any given scenario). Good luck and good riddance to her!
I think at 37 weeks, your Dr. should have told you by now who the other practitioner was and that he/she would possibly be out of town. I think if the receptionist talked to me like that, I would have walked back down the hallway and calmly asked the Dr who the backup Dr was.
My Dr. was going out of town around my due date, and had introduced me to the back up several weeks early *just in case* he wouldn't be there for delivery.
Yes, I'd be upset that I was not informed.
My OB also had a vacation planned near my delivery date. He tried to talk me into an induction to fit the delivery around his vacation schedule. I'm not sure what's worse!
I agree with you 100% - there's absolutely no excuse for being treated that way by a fellow doctor. There is also absolutely no excuse for incompetent office staff! I truly hope that this new doctor will turn out to be better than the other one! One of the things I appreciated the most about my OB/Gyn was that he arrived at the hospital within 15 mins of being called (at 5am) and still walked in with a smile and a remark about being a "little early" (I had an appointment at 4pm that afternoon to see him in his office but my waters broke 3 weeks before due date). I needed an emergency c-section and he just took everything in his stride. May your "birth experience" remain a fond memory for you! Best wishes to all
Completely understandable. I would have been very upset and with an outrageous break in client trust like this, I would be inclined to do the same as you - head to another doctor. However, before you tell Thoughtless Doctor #1 off, please ask Doc#2 what they will charge for delivery w/out prenatal care and call your insurance to see how they will handle the split. Doc#1 has provided virtually all prenatal care and Doc#2 will be handling delivery but fees are usually bundled for prenatal care and delivery and insurance companies discounts and benefits are based on the bundled fee. This could end up being much more costly. I am sorry that you were treated like this.
I'm on your side. I'd be livid about this. I'm shocked that your doctor didn't tell you about this. I would definitely call you OB's office back and request that the doctor calls you. I'm sure you aren't the only person in this situation and your doctor needs to be aware of how this has made you feel. I would keep calling until you get a return call. Good luck!
I would have been mad. I mean, sure, taking a vacation is one thing, but not planning on telling you about it until 2 weeks before your delivery, when she's going to be out of town on your due date? Very disrespectful. And the way the receptionist was being so evasive about it was kind of hinky to me.
I would definitely be upset. This is very disrespectful to you as the patient. I'd find a new doctor. I'm very sorry that you are having to deal with this drama at the end of your pregnancy.
She should have told you much earlier. I don't think you are over-reacting at all. Many of us select "solo practitioners" (myself included) for ourselves and our children BECAUSEof the person attention and familiarity that develops.
You did the right thing and you are totally not over reacting.
I've switched doctors over incompetent office staff before.
A doctor who's God's gift to what ever they specialize in can be totally shooting themselves in the foot if the office staff messes up on a consistent basis.
Ordering/charging for unnecessary procedures amounts to insurance fraud.
It's not worth the hassle dealing with them.
Everyone who's due to deliver in Aug will be pissed with your old Dr, but it's only about 1/12th of her practice and she probably doesn't care if she loses a few.
I understand you are upset, but at this late date there isn't much you can do. Switching practitioners now isn't a solution. What if the new practitioner is ill when it's your time to deliver? You'll get yet another person you hardly know delivering. I would just sit tight and bug the dr to call you and find out who the on call dr will be. I would switch OBGYN's after you deliver for any further pregnancies or GYN needs. Quite frankly, the nurses are the ones there and do 80% of the work during your laboring-I think it's too bad we don't get to meet our nurses ahead of time! THe dr just comes in and the end and says "ok push!" THe covering dr will have access to your records. Most OB's send their patients records to the hospital 1-2 weeks before upcoming due dates. Your OBGYN probably has banded together with other solo practitioners in town and has a weekend and vacation rotation coverage schedule. She probably works with these OBGYN's routinely and can discuss any potentially difficult pending deliveries with these drs. It is mindblowing that some dr's can be so rude and unconcientious but there are a lot of them. I worked for an solo OBGYN who often said on a Tues. that she would be out of the office the following Mon/Tues and to reschedule patients. Vacations were never scheduled far in advance. She was routinely late to start seeing her patients for the day. We routinely ran 1-2 hours behind. SHe was a caring but highly disorganized person (who I might add didn't want to be organized-she was fine with it all). THe staff took the brunt of the patient anger. I finally just assumed that she felt her time was more valuable than her patients time (since many were low income) and they had to put up with it. She neverhad a shortage of patients. She did give the patients eveything they needed and often more than she should have (extended handicap plaquards, pain medicine, inductions etc). Perhaps after the delivery you can have a dr to dr chat about professionalism and how you felt it was lacking in this circumstance. At least you know how to run a more professional practice, and can have a clear concsience about your work. No matter what happens or who delivers, in a couple of weeks you will have a beautiful baby and that is all that matters! Enjoy the moment....
I would be doing exactly the same thing you are doing. Good luck with the new OB.
Yes I think you are over reacting. You must have realized that an OB GYN
in a solo practice cannot be available 24/7. Did you ever think to ask about
who covers in case of emergency or holidays or vacations. I would not
totally put the blame on her. Now is not the time to switch IMO .
You are not overreacting. Check out the new OB, and good luck!
Wow, that is really inconsiderate, and in fact seems almost unsafe for them not to notify and make plans while the doctor is on vacation.
My reaction would've been the same as yours, especially if I had had a difficult/problematic pregnancy. Kudos to you for standing up for yourself and finding another practice.
You might go one step further and send a letter to the practice you're leaving, stating why you're leaving (ongoing miscommunications, inconsiderate/disrespect of patients concerns about coverage, refusal of the doctor to call you back and address your concerns).
I wish you a safe and uneventful delivery with your new OB.
Sounds pretty bad, but I'd give my dr a chance to explain before I changed. I have a baby due around the holidays, so I know there is a chance neither my dr nor the other in her practice will be available, so I have a mental preparation that I may have a different dr on the big day,although my dr hasn't said anything about that. I think your dr should call you back but there could be a legit reason why she couldn't get back to you today, I'd at least give he 24 hrs before I made any big decisions. You aren't having the baby today and if you did, heck, she'd be here :D This may be a planned vacation but one she had to plan after she took you on as a patient and she may feel whatever her solution is will be fine and not realized how it would affect you. If you feel you have received good care thus far I would give her a chance to call you and talk it out before changing since you are so far along. If you don't get a call back this week, then that would indicate a larger issue I think. Good luck, and congrats ;)
I think you have every right to be upset. 37 weeks pregnant and no one even try to inform you ahead about the vacation. And, the Doctor did not return call on the same day?! But, also, when I met with my OB/GYN for the first visit, I asked what if any reason he will not be around, who will cover for him? It is just because if there is accident happened on him.. hahaha.. so, i knew for long who will cover him... Hope everything turns out fine! Good luck.
This is horrible behavior on behalf of your doctor. Right around the time I was due with my daughter, my doctor, who was also a single practice, was having hip replacement surgery. He wanted to induce me early but I decided to let nature take its course. I had an appointment to meet with the doctor who was covering for him but never made it to that appointment since my water broke and my daughter came a week early. I met the doctor who delivered my daughter as I was laboring in the hospital. It wasn't the ideal situation but he was a very good doctor and perfectly capable. The delivery went off without a hitch. It definitely helps to have the doctor that you're comfortable with by your side, but in my experience, all worked out. As long as your new doctor is a pro, the length of the relationship shouldn't matter. I would feel more comfortable with someone else than with a doctor and medical practice that's acting shady and evasive. What if you go into labor early?? They really want to make you wait until your next appointment to even DISCUSS this matter with you???? That is so not okay. They should have enough respect for their patients to, at least, have a conversation as soon as they know the doctor will be out. Totally wrong.
I know you posted this a while ago, but I just wanted to say, I would be livid too. When I was pregnant with my second child, my midwife had to move because her husband was transferred. She told me the second she found out and I kept seeing her up until I was 30 weeks because I loved her and didn't want to change. But being told in advance gave me time to think about what I wanted and where I wanted to go. If she hadn't told me until a few weeks before I would have been beyond hurt. I hope you find a practice you love!
Don't think you are over-reacting. It is what I would do.
You know, everything seems like SUCH A BIG DEAL when you are at "that point" in your pregnancy (the end!) So I do think there may be some overreacting here, just a little. You are totally in the right to feel disrespected though! Your OB should have told you from the get-go about this month-long vacay. Totally unprofessional and weird. Sounds like something strange may have been afoot because the receptionist seemed weird about it. Maybe it was last minute? Again, unprofessional.
Personally, I wouldn't gum up the works trying to go to another OB now. It's the same outcome, someone else delivers your baby (you know of course that this is likely to happen anyway, even if she is out of town?) So.... I would meet with my doctor and find out who the Dr's who are covering, do my research and maybe even try to get a meeting in with whoever it is. But what's most important right now is you just sit, relax, anjoy the last of your pregnancy before your life completely changes. Once you hold your seeet newborn in your arms, all this drama will go away and it WON'T MATTER!
Good luck. Sorry you have to deal with this "surprise" turn of events with your OB. Def wouldn't go back for the next pregnancy or recommend her to anyone else!
Love your resolution. When pregnant with my 2nd my OB was pregnant and due a month after me. She let me know our very 1st visit, and that she planned to work up until she absolutely could (the rest of the practice would take over her case load), but would NOT be on night calls!
Very simply stated- and I was fine with that! I'm so sorry you were not granted the same courtesy! As it was she ended up delivery 6 weeks early, the same week I had my son--she was not at my delivery :(
Wishing you a wonderful delivery...
No I don't think you're overreacting. I'd definitly be upset too! The doctor has an obligation to their patients. It sounds like her vacation is more important than keeping her patients up to date. I'd stick w/the new doc for sure. I had a vet like that. My cat got seriously ill, on death's door & she went on vacation for a week...no one at the office to fwd any test results or anything to indicate she wouldn't be available. Well my cat died that weekend & I was devistated so I too was very p.o'd to say the least. While it's not the exact same thing, I too thought she should've left some way to get our records, even having a receptionist on duty during her absence but she didn't. Be it an animal dr or people dr, they have obligations to make sure their patients are covered during an absence!
I can assure you that at the point when you are in labor you don't really care who catches. The same thing happened to me with my second. At first I was like huh but then relaxed. No biggie in the end.
My third came so fast the house OB delivered him, again no big deal.
I don't understand why you would get another OB. Isn't that the same as what you would go through? Ya know, changing now?
I am NOT a doctor and I certainly respect my doctor's life outside of being my doctor. I in now way think their lives revolve around me. That being said, I would feel exactly as you are feeling right now. Of course she should have advised you months ago that she would be on vacation during your delivery. For heaven's sake, my OB would notify me via phone or text to tell me she was delayed at the hospital and one of her partner's would be covering my appointment that day. I too would be leaving her practice and I would make sure she knew exactly why I was going. Good luck and God Bless.
