Pediatrician recs.

Maybe someone could recommend a pediatrician for me in the Plainview, Hicksville, Levittown, Long Island, NY area. I need to get some recs. for setting up interviews. THanks, in advance. I'm thinking about having a DR with priveleges at Winthrop Hospital. Any advise would be appreciated, as well.

 

Maybe someone could recommend a pediatrician for me in the Plainview, Hicksville, Levittown, Long Island, NY area. I need to get some recs. for setting up interviews. THanks, in advance. I'm thinking about having a DR with priveleges at Winthrop Hospital. Any advise would be appreciated, as well.

 

I don't live in your area so cannot recommend anyone but since you mentioned advice, thought I'd share what's been important to me in a pediatrician.

I've been extremely fortunate that my 4-yr old son has had general good health. But as a new parent dealing with first-time fevers, colds and ear infections what mattered most was having an accessible, respectful ped practice. Mine had a 24-hour call line...either a nurse or dr. answered any medical questions, with respect, no matter how trivial. Also I liked the fact that waiting rooms were 'sick' and 'well'...if you were there for a regular checkup less risk of getting germs.

Another factor critical to me is my intolerance of drs. who are condescending and/or dismissive. I'd really grown to like our ped practice, but when my son was about 2 1/2 he had severe, gunky congestion that did not improve after 2 months. I am not an alarmist but I knew over the course of these months that this was not 'just a cold, mom' as several of our peds told me when I kept taking him in every 2 weeks. Finally I insisted on an ENT referral and CT scans determined he had a sinus infection blocking about 99% of his passages. The ENT said he couldn't believe my son hadn't been crying constantly in pain from headaches, pressure etc. It took 3-4 months of antibiotics and steroids for my poor little guy to fully recover.

Although I am understanding of drs mistakes and of course understand they are only human, I felt they were negligent in dismissing me every time we came in and switched drs. Asked around and found a practice that was more conservative and more likely to refer to a specialist if something seemed 'off'. Hopefully things will continue to go well with my son's new peds. I guess my last piece of advice is you can always consider your intitial ped relationship a trial, doesn't necessarily mean a lifelong commitment.

I hope I didn't ramble too much, good luck to you!

 

Irish37,
I didn't think anyone responded to my post. But something told me to scroll back over numerous pages and I found you very helpful respnse. Thank you so much.
Gee, you really had a scare with your DS. To be dismissed either innocently or neglgently must have been so frustrating. Glad your little guy finally got better with proper treatment! You sure did your due diligence, huh?!

I will remember your story when I feel my gut telling me something different than the doc.

Thanks, again and Happy New Year!

 

again, I don't live in your area so cannot give you a specific referal but I have a doctor in the Children's Hospital network and it is wonderful...if you have a Children's Hospital near you I would strongly recommend that. We have access to all the specialists we could ever need and because they are in the same "group" they refer at the slightest sign of needing a specialist. they also spend much more time with us and get us in immediately when we need to be seen.

 

Also, not in your area but something that really matters to me is the helpfulness and kindness of the staff. If the receptionist is a snot and acts as a gate keeper then first strike. If the assistants (who bring you to the back) do not ask how your baby is and coo over him/her or handle the least bit roughly, second strike. If the nurses who administer the vaccines do it on the table with the kids held down and do not consider parental holding, third stike.

I had a few issues with the first pedi we were going to because of staff. We left the practice and told the doctor. I think she was really ashamed.

Go with your gut and do not be afraid to let mama bear out occasionally.
Merijo