I switched pediatricians today. And I feel a little guilty about it. We went through a number (3) of pediatricians here, before we settled on our last. And I liked most of the people at the last office - except for the one nurse who thought she'd just sneak up on my children to give them their flu shots. But the office was crowded, and they stopped getting flu shots for kids over 1 and they don't do hearing and vision screenings. But I didn't mention this to them when I dropped by to get a copy of Hugmonkey's vaccinations this morning. I just took them and fled to the new pediatrician's. Where I signed a consent form so THEY could ask the old pediatricians for the kids' records, not me.
Because apparently I am a chickenshit.
Unlike Hugmonkey, who was very vocal and honest in his opinions at the new pediatrician's this morning. "Where are your ears?" the doctor asked kindly. "NO!" Hugmonkey responded. Hugmonkey knows where his ears are very well, of course. He just didn't feel like telling the lady with the stethoscope. Nor did he feel like standing on the scale, having the stethoscope used on him or cooperating in any way with the medical exam. Although he was perfectly happy to chat about his cars. He even gave the doctor the purple one when she asked, which surprised me because I thought he didn't know his colors. Sometimes I wonder what else he knows.
He was very distraught, for example, when we left the old pediatricians' office this morning. Their waiting room has LOTS of toys, but I wonder if he also knew that we wouldn't be going back?
Seriously, though, I wonder if I should tell the old pediatricians that we're leaving. They are not hurting for business, believe me, but they did know our family. Have you told doctors that you're changing practices? The only other times I've done it have been because we were moving and I didn't feel guilty about it then. Now I'm nervous about saying, "You're fabulous and all, but just not fabulous enough." Or should I just forget about it altogether?
Please, internets, give me some advice.
*So yeah, part of this post was prompted by the message from the old pediatrician's office on my machine. I mean, I knew it was there and the guilt kicked in, but I hadn't actually listened to it. Well, now I have and my guilt is TOTALLY GONE. Those assholes won't release the records until I pay them $28, a dollar per page of my kids' records. Interestingly, they have never charged me for all the copies I've needed for school. I can't believe this is even legal.
15 comments:
Don't sweat it and don't worry about notifying them.
yeah, don't worry about it. they'll figure it out when your new office contacts them to get records. besides, you could be switching for any number of reasons, new insurance plans, the new office is close to work/home, whatever.
don't worry. I work for a dentist and we get requests all the time. I doubt you're the first or will be the last to leave them. Unless you are leaving because you feel they are incompetent and/or will hurt your child then there's no reason to notify them. good luck with the new one :)
I am not sure. My kids went to the same pediatrician until they were 15 years old. Who also was a preacher at our church.
My only advice is that when you change doctors you need to make sure your kids medical records are transferred to the new guy. Just so they know what all has been going on with your kid prior to.
Thank you, ladies. I thought I was probably over-reacting, but it's nice to be reassured. And don't worry, KittyCat, the records are being transferred. :)
We were on the verge of switching pediatrician practices for years, mainly because of the incompetence of the administrative staff, but once our youngest got to the point of yearly visits and we were hardly ever there, it just seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
I would tell them if there's something specific you feel they ought to know about why you're dissatisfied. Otherwise, I'd let it slide.
I have never heard of a doctor's office charging for records. That's just ridiculous. They usually just send the records over to the new place. Jerks. Don't even sweat it anymore. And maybe you should mention your story to the Better Business Bureau...so other patients can know how this pediatrician acts.
I'm kinda suspicious of the legality of it too, or at least the ethicality. I've heard of people getting charged for copies if you have to ask more than once, but if Newdoc is requesting records from Olddoc? Shady.
I changed pediatricians once because of dissatisfaction; didn't bother telling them why because I didn't think they'd do anything about it (no flu shots an issue there too! but what pushed me over the edge was nurse who reeked of cigarette smoke).
The doctor we'd been seeing at that practice actually called me to see if there was anything he should know. I thought that was nice, and felt a little bad that if he hadn't called, he might have gone on thinking it was something about him rather than about the practice generally that made us leave.
@StephLove I swear I'm not switching again, that's for sure.
I think I will definitely let things slide as far as leaving, but I do want to check to see about switching the records. I've never had this happen before and it does seem so shady. Lisa, I think if the doctor called me, I'd talk to her, but otherwise no.
look up the HIPPA laws, I know they are allowed to charge, however I think $1/page is too much. I'm thinking .10 cents a page is more reasonable.
I switched peds not too long ago. I hated my old pediatrician. Hated. I even got into an argument with one of the doctors. When I switched, they did not charge me for copies of my kids records (and at the time I had three kids in that office).
@LunaNik My husband suggested bringing them paper and stamps, or offering to move the files ourselves. I too hated the pediatricians we had before the last one, and none of them charged me either. Weird.
I had one pediatrician retire on me and had to pay to have those records transferred. Then I was taking the kids to a doddering old fool who should have retired long ago and recently found a new one. Guess what? Another charge for records. To my understanding, they use an outside company to take care of this and the fees go to them, not the doctor.
I had one pediatrician retire on me and had to pay to have those records transferred. Then I was taking the kids to a doddering old fool who should have retired long ago and recently found a new one. Guess what? Another charge for records. To my understanding, they use an outside company to take care of this and the fees go to them, not the doctor.
@StephLove I swear I'm not switching again, that's for sure.
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