https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:06:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-266260 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:16:42 +0000 LuLu Mom 266260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into my doctor's appt. yesterday with this post in mind, and my doctor was behind due to an unexpected very ill mom-to-be who they squeezed in. Even being 20 minutes behind she gave me the care I would expect and asked twice if we had any more questions for her or any questions in general. She also asked about our work, family, nursery, ect. She is very personable and I like that a lot that she does seem to care enough to get to know us as a couple, I can't imagine not having this type of relationship with the doctor who will deliver my child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-266250 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:03:45 +0000 mrsjyw 266250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He's as attentive as I'd like him to be. I wasn't sure I liked him at first because he seemed very brief, but a couple of appts in-- he's the right amount of info/caring without overbearingly suffocating me (because I'm not too keen on drs in general).</p> <p>I am def considering trying a midwife with future LO(?) just to see the different experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-266248 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:02:25 +0000 pastemoo 266248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I agree with getting a midwife. :) But also, get a different doctor if you are unhappy with this one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265680 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:17:18 +0000 DillonLion 265680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: My office has online secured access and I get e-mails returned (through that site) by my doctor himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265678 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:16:08 +0000 Modern Daisy 265678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Minnie_Girl: I know, I've never had a Doctor say anything besides 'everything looks normal' or 'we found something and you need to see a specialist'. No explanation, no discussion about what could have caused it. I will definitely look into a midwife when I am eventually pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265677 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:13:48 +0000 Modern Daisy 265677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: I asked about the website access to medical records because I know some of my friends are able to access all of their test results online through a secure site provided by their doctors office. I don't know how common this is, but it seems like most people on this thread do not have access that same way. Also, once my friend had a nurse bruise up her arm during a blood test and she was somehow able to email her doctor a photo of the bruised arm (bypassing the nurse) so that's why I asked about email. I have never been able to email a doctor without it being viewed by several people first! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265659 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:58:54 +0000 Minnie_Girl 265659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It may be idealistic, but I would look around for a more attentive doctor. You really have to be your own health advocate and push for the best care possible. </p> <p>I also HIGHLY recommend getting a midwife if you want more personal care for pregnancy. Most doctors simply don't have the time to provide complete care, while an independent midwife is more likely to address health and normalcy. It's the difference between "Your test results look normal" and "Let's talk about your diet and any physical changes you could be experiencing." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265643 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:44:18 +0000 pastemoo 265643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Email and website accessible medical records are illegal (by HIPAA) unless they can be secured in a specific way, so most doctors will not have this.</p> <p>And most practices only call about results if something is wrong or potentially wrong.</p> <p>Aside from that, you should be comfortable with your doctor and if you are not that is a good reason to switch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265640 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:38:38 +0000 Tidybee 265640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with all of the previous comments -- now is the time to switch if you're at all feeling reluctant to stay on with your doc once you're pregnant. My doc is in NYC (can certainly recommend) and as any doc, she's a little busy, and I do sometimes have to spend some time waiting for her. Our visits are brief, mainly because I haven't had any issues, but she always offers to meet in her office once we're done in the exam room. She has always called when she said she would with results. When we were having difficulty TTC, she would have me fax my charts pretty regularly and call within a few hours to tell me what she thought or what to do. She's not warm and fuzzy, but she's not distant either...she's straightforward and to the point which I have actually appreciated in this experience.<br /> Bottom line - if you're feeling undervalued, there are plenty of Ob/gyns in this city that will make you feel quite the opposite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265629 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:24:20 +0000 purrpletulips 265629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you aren't comfortable with your doctor's behavior now, you probably won't be when you are pregnant and have more questions. My OB/GYN is usually is in and out pretty quickly but if need be he will take whatever time he needs to answer questions or address concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265520 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:42:50 +0000 Modern Daisy 265520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JessLC: That is hilarious about the front desk staff!! They're always rude to me too, but when I brought my DH yesterday they were a lot nicer :) I would not have walked out of there with my medical records if he hadn't been there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-265028 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:15:14 +0000 SleepyMonkey 265028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm in nyc too. i really like my ob-gyn, but I think that in nyc, because doctors get so many patients, it can be hard for them to spend a lot of time with every single one. so its a tradeoff between being really responsive and being on time. 50% of the time, my doctor is late by 30+ mins, but she really responsive, really patient, spends a lot of time with me, and answers all of my questions thoroughly. that is probably why she is late all the time. for example, I had a couple questions she didn't immediately know the answers to (which was ok because they were a little obscure), and she spent a good amount of time looking it up while i was there, or calling the anesthesiologist with a specific question about an epidural. she walked me thru my blood test results and explained numbers to me. she always asks multiple times if i have any questions. she doesn't say inflammatory comments, she is laid back and for me, that is what i need. </p> <p>BUT, she doesn't email or have a website where you can access record, but neither did the other practice i went to, so i'm ok with that. she only calls immediately with test results when there is something to be concerned about, otherwise, she calls within a week. my experience with the front desk staff is that they are almost always consistently rude and have an attitude. i don't know what it is about nyc doctors' offices, but i've learned to just accept it. </p> <p>anyway, if you do start looking, good luck. i can also recommend her to you, if you like (i just hope we don't have the same doctor! haha, that would be funny.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264767 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:02:22 +0000 LivsMama 264767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor was EXTREMELY attentive. Called me very quickly, even occasionally to see how I was feeling. He is in NYC on the UES if you want his name. Never rushed, let me ask as many questions as I wanted and always gave me time to sit in his office to chat if we needed it. They dont email either, but almost none of my doctors do </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264747 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:50:26 +0000 April_Showers 264747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the past my doctors have always seemed in a rush, running the wrong tests, and being overall not attentive. When we moved to Dallas I was forced to finally find a new Dr. and I LOVE her! She always follows up with me on my next visit to make sure everything is ok from the previous one, plus she listens and sits down to talk to me every time. I had to go in for Tonsilitis and she eased a lot of my fears about being an adult who still gets this (plus she prescribed me a normal antibodic and didn't argue with me about the strep test that was neg). So I knew when I started searching for OB's this quality was on the top of my list. Thankfully I found one on my first try!</p> <p>I would switch and find someone who will take the time for you. It has made a HUGE difference in my health care and how I view going to the doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264738 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:41:01 +0000 ladyfingers 264738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have always noticed most doctors seem in a rush, BUT, I have never had a doctor who seems impatient with my questions or neglects to answer them/rushes through the answers. While I find I need to be proactive most of the time in asking -- rarely will they say "do you have any other questions" -- I wouldn't tolerate a doctor who didn't take the time to at least answer me. And the office communication would be a definite dealbreaker for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264713 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:25:05 +0000 Modern Daisy 264713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: That sounds a lot like my Doctors office. And honestly I've never had any doctor in this city actually proactively call me with results, only once when my throat culture came back to show that I had a staph infection which is pretty serious and has to be treated immediately. So I want to make sure I"m managing my expectations, I mean I don't want to go through all the trouble of switching Doctors if I"m going to get this same treatment somewhere that's less convenient for me to get to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264700 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:18:20 +0000 Modern Daisy 264700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: That's a really good point, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264696 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:15:56 +0000 blackbird 264696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor's office is incredibly attentive--but I find that i deal with the nurse practitioners and nurses more than the two doctors there (who are busy seeing higher risk patients, patients further along in their pregnancy, and delivering babies). My office doesn't have a website, doesn't use email, and they require traditional fax requests for medical records. They do have a nurse's line that i can call in with questions and a nurse answers them asap. They do not call me with test results; i have to call and speak to the nurse's line, then they pull up my results and let me know what's up with them. </p> <p>When something is wrong, I get all the care in the world. They bring me in for same-day ultrasounds, the doctor calls at night, they fax prescriptions to Walgreens for me...when things are normal, I find that I have to be more of my own advocate, which is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264692 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:14:09 +0000 DillonLion 264692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: Yeah, I wouldn't bank on being a "higher priority" once you are pregnant. Why shouldn't you get proper, responsive care right now? What difference would it make if you are pregnant? You deserve good care regardless, in my opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264688 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:12:26 +0000 Modern Daisy 264688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jessiejo17: A list is a good idea, I have never done that. The problem is I don't know what to ask. And one response leads to more questions. </p> <p>It's very helpful that everyone is saying to switch now before I get pregnant. I was actually thinking of holding off just because I thougth she might be totally different if I were actually pregnant. She's always really interested in whether or not I'm TTC every year during my pap test. And when you call the office there's a separate 'option' to press if you're an established pregnant patient. So I guess i just assumed I was on the bottom of the totem pole but would be bumped up once my status changed. I shouldn't assume anything though and it makes sense to switch now if at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264652 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:58:34 +0000 googly-eyes 264652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doc was a little like this but I'm ok with it and have heard many other similar stories. They only call if something is wrong with the test (or scheduling or whatever) and otherwise give me the results at my next appointment. I don't know how they handle tests before pregnancy, She is pretty brief but does answer any questions I have and does a thorough job in all the things she needs to do/check. In the beginning it bothered me that she don't say the exact heart rate or whatever but I think overall her style has kept things relaxed. She also became more attentive as I entered the third trimester. I also can't email but I can call the nurse with questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264641 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:54:09 +0000 LuLu Mom 264641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like you should find someone you connect with now before you get pregnant, otherwise you won't be happy. My office's policy is they only call with results if there is concern or issues, if they are good you won't know until your next appointment, I am fine with this. If I do want a confirmation I can call in and speak with my doctor's nurse, but very rarely do I speak with my doctor on the phone. </p> <p>Only when I was having some issues she wanted clarification on she called and hten called a couple days later to check on me. Do you have a list of questions you bring with you, or are they off the top of your head? A list might be a little more organized and you coudl hand it to her and she could go through the answers quickly with you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264633 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:44:37 +0000 pl0508 264633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same experience with my first OB. I wasn't pregnant when I switched but am so glad that I have a new doctor now that I am pregnant! I felt very slighted by my doctor and his nurse - during a time when I had to get several biopsies and have a Leep procedure! I just felt like they were running me through the motions. I was also unhappy with my birth control and instead of asking me how i was feeling they would just try a different one - I felt like they were just going down a list instead of figuring out what was best for me!</p> <p>My new doctor is wonderful. She's extremely attentive AND I am happier with their operating system. I love that I can email instead of call. I say if you aren't happy, switch. Get some recs from girlfriends! I've told 3 friends about my doc and they've since switched to her, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264630 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:43:03 +0000 hilsy85 264630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say that if you're not happy with her now, you probably won't be happy with her when you're pregnant, because you'll likely have a million more questions that you do now. I also think it's easier to start lookingfor a new doctor before you become pregnant, because there's less pressure (aka, well I'm already x weeks along, maybe it's too late to switch, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264628 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:41:34 +0000 Maysprout 264628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a big practice during my pregnancy and had some doctors who acted like this - who didn't tell me test results and didn't like to answer questions. The two that acted this way were the only people I received wrong information from - not just matter of opinion things, just wrong info. There is no way I'd go back to those two, even if they could be nice sometimes, the other stuff was a deal breaker, there were 6 other doctors there and none of them acted that way.</p> <p>They have a technician do the anatomy scan and then you go to the doctor and they go over the findings. Well the doctor I went to never said anything so when she was walking out the door I asked her about the anatomy scan findings and she barely looked back and said it would have been brought up to you if there was something wrong. I was really really surprised about the lack of information. Other people who went to the same practice but had a diff dr for their anatomy scan had a much better discussion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-attentive-is-your-doctor#post-264622 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:32:41 +0000 Modern Daisy 264622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I may have to get a new Gyno, but I want to make sure I'm managing my expectations and not over reacting.</p> <p>She has great bedside manner and is fast, gentle and seems caring. But whenever I ask questions she's super rushed and answers in about two words as she's walking out the door. And she never calls with test results, when I had bloodwork to test my hormones I finally followed up after not hearing anything for two weeks and it turns out I had PCOS. I don't think she ever would have called to tell me that!</p> <p>Also, the office is super antiquated with the way they communicate. They will not email, don't have a website and if you want medical records you have to fax in a request form and wait for someone to call you. Of course, no one ever called so this morning my DH and I had to physically show up at the office and demand them! They tried not to give them to me but I pointed out they were violating HIPAA and finally someone jumped up and made us a copy.</p> <p>Is this normal? How attentive is your Doctor? Does she call right away with test results? Does she seem rushed when you ask a question? Will she email with you and can you access your records online?</p> <p>I'm so bummed if I have to switch because she was GREAT for my yearly pap and BC perscription and the office is a block from my apartment. I'm also worried that if I switch I'll just get the same treatment somewhere else especially since this is NYC :( </p>