[PuppyFluffer]

I thought we could use a little positive feedback around here so I'll share my experience at a new patient visit with a family practitioner today.

I am looking for a doctor that has after hour call in/on call staffing and hospital privileges. I have a wonderful family practitioner who's in solo private practice, does not have staffed 24 hour call in or hospital privileges. She is very alternative minded and I plan to keep her as our primary doctor and use the other "mainstream" doctor for annual well checks and emergency after hours stuff. Anyhow...enough with the back story.

When I called the office, I asked if they were comfortable caring for children who were vaccine free. She said "I don't see why that would be an issue. That is a personal decision." That was the RIGHT answer!

So I took all three kids in today. They were all weighed and measured full dressed. The nurse took blood pressure on the 7 year old and pulse on everyone. The doctor came in and I was honest with him. I said I was looking for parallel care with a doctor that was accessible 24 hours a day and had hospital privileges. I told him I needed someone who was comfortable with an educated parent who asked a lot of questions and didn't just do what ever the doctor said. He was perfectly comfortable with that. He was nice to the kids, just gave them a quick listen with a stethoscope and that's about it. No diaper removal, no questions about circumcision.

I did write on the consent form that no vaccines were to be given and no treatment or exam was to be done with out explanation and verbal consent. ON my son's form, I wrote "No retraction of his intact foreskin". I thought about writing it in big red letters across the front of his info sheet but decided to hold back until I got a sense of the doctor. I was glad to see that he had no interest in undressing any of them. They were all perfectly healthy so there was no need for much of an exam - nothing to look at.

So, this might be someone we decide to use. I have a meet/greet with one more doctor scheduled in a week or so....we'll see how that one goes.

 

[BlessedMommy2006]

Glad that you found someone who seems to be working out. I didn't mention it in my other thread, but my doc who is good on the no retraction, is also good about not pressuring me into vaccines.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

I was very clear to ask if I would be harassed about vaccinating at every visit. He said no, absolutely not. He said "I will tell you when they reach what ever age a vaccine is recommended for that it is suggested they get it and you can decline and I'll note the chart and that's it." I made it pretty clear that I didn't want to have the vaccination issue brought up every visit. He got my point!

It's good you have a doctor who is respectful of your right to make medical decisions for your child. As I told this doctor today, I have to live every day with the health care decisions my husband and I make for our kids....he doesn't.

the only think I didn't like is that he doesn't have any children yet. I have a general rule of wanting doctors who have personal experience to work on me or my family. For instance, I don't see male doctors for ob/gyn things. I would prefer my doctor have their own children if they are going to be treating my kids. He seemed to be in touch with them and able to communicate well at their level.

 

[BlessedMommy2006]

That's awesome!

: My doc asked me one time, at the first visit, if I was vaccinating. I said no, and that was it. He has never even mentioned the subject again at any visit.

My daughter's old pediatrician gave me a lecture on it each and every visit so this is a huge improvement.