https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:25:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-757818 Thu, 02 May 2013 18:04:01 +0000 ineebee 757818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My obgyn recommended us to our RE. We had no idea until after making the appointment that he was locally and nationally ranked as one of the best doctors. :O Pretty lucky. And he's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-757712 Thu, 02 May 2013 17:11:45 +0000 marionberry 757712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To find our RE I just googled "RE and [city]" and saw the top listings that came up. One of the clinics that appeared I had already heard of before, so checked out their website. It was really thorough with lots of great information and it had bios of the doctors so I saw that all of them had Ivy League educations and residencies, etc. This made me feel really comfortable with the practice. The site had an email a question section, so I wrote in about our situation and got a response back from one of the REs in the practice just a day later. When I called to make an appointment, I just ended up picking the first available (who just happened to be my favorite from his background) and it was a perfect match. I think you're right though, that those first meetings tell you a lot about the provider and help you to understand whether you'll connect with them or not. Trust your gut! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-757575 Thu, 02 May 2013 15:59:49 +0000 bunnylove08 757575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our OB was a recommendation from my GYN and I googled him and he came highly recommended. I also went for a regular check up and he was super nice so i just went with him. In the end he did not deliver my baby since he was off that day and I had his colleague. She was also nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-757412 Thu, 02 May 2013 15:09:37 +0000 Mrs.Someone 757412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Hah! I suppose when we're talking about looking into our lady parts, its important for docs to not look creepy ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-757398 Thu, 02 May 2013 15:07:15 +0000 Happygal 757398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cole: Hi Cole. What certifications were you wanting to see for doctors? </p> <p>@KT326: I'm glad you got to switch insurance companies. That proximity is a nice thing---I thought about branching out, but I really don't want to have to travel too far. </p> <p>@Lulu Mom: sounds like a perfect match! </p> <p>@Leialou: That's good luck! And those do sound like good signs that would be hard to ignore.</p> <p>@Mrs.Someone: your reply made me laugh. I will admit that I looked at the picture of one RE who was had a stone cold stare into the camera. I Xed him off b/c I thought he looked creepy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756513 Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:34 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 756513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was referred to my RE by my gynecologist. I didn't research her at all and luckily she is really good. She actually did her fellowship at the hospital I was born at the year I was born. When I found out I thought it was a good sign since I live several states away from where I was born now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756486 Thu, 02 May 2013 11:45:56 +0000 LuLu Mom 756486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know my gyno personally (my best friend is her nanny) and we've hung out socially, but not enough that it is awkward that she's that up close and personal with my stuff :) I like that we have a more personal relationship. I still need to find a regular MD, I currently just use quick care services. </p> <p>LO's doc we choice based on word of mouth and an interview. We love her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756460 Thu, 02 May 2013 11:36:19 +0000 KT326 756460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get to choose my first RE. I was with Kaiser at the time and they set me up with an appointment. I hated Kaiser already and the experience with the RE made me want to switch my insurance. Luckily I my company hired me on as a full time employee (I was previously a contractor) and I changed insurance companies. </p> <p>For the 2nd RE office, I looked to see who would be covered by my insurance and read tons of reviews on lots of different sites. I narrowed it down to two clinics and decided to go with the one closest to work since I would be having a lot of appointments. I loved the office. I got to see the RE every single time. And they had their own lab so I didn't have to worry about running into anyone I know or seeing lots of pregnant women like I did at Kaiser. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756407 Thu, 02 May 2013 11:15:46 +0000 Cole 756407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont know if my approach will help much but I have taken a few routes- I asked my gp about a gyn amd she had a recommendation to someone awesome. When I needed to see a specialist I figured out who my insurance covered, who was certified the way I wanted and then started calling offices. The trick here was I asked to speak to the doctor's nurse, I explained my situation and asked if that was something the doctor would want to take on or if there was someone else who might be a better fit. Some were awesome, some considered this a waste of their time- I figured it was a happy medium for actually interviewing doctors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756303 Thu, 02 May 2013 10:40:13 +0000 Mrs.Someone 756303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Ahh ok, that makes sense. I try and find someone with a good bedside manner, and I usually look for a woman first. Also (and I know this is wrong), but if there are photos of doctors and I don't have much to go on, I choose the one who looks the friendliest. Or if I'm feeling impatient, the one with the first open appointment!</p> <p>As for why I went with a naturopath, it was half an accident. I wasn't thrilled with my GYN at my 6+ month TTC appointment. I also wasn't ready for meds (I'm not a fan of any meds). I started seeing an acupuncturist. After my m/c, I was even less thrilled with my GYN, and when I asked her about switching my thyroid meds, she said the type I wanted was prescribed by naturopaths. Then when talking to the naturopath I told her the whole story and she ran some more blood tests. I found she was very thorough in trying to find the cause of the problem, whereas my GYN just did the basic CD3 bloodwork, told me I need to loose weight, and mentioned Clomid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756286 Thu, 02 May 2013 10:29:03 +0000 Happygal 756286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: there are some sites, including national ones, with a few reviews. I guess I'm more curious as to what people were looking for in a doctor when they picked one out. What criteria was on the "must have" list? </p> <p>What made you decide to go the naturopath approach? Sorry if you've shared your story before and I missed it!</p> <p>@Shutterbug: Again, I'm very jealous of your RE experience thus far! I think that's true about the rest of the staff being as important as the doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756232 Thu, 02 May 2013 10:05:47 +0000 Mrs.Someone 756232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Yea, I guess living in a big city helps. Does your area have a "best doctors" list? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756224 Thu, 02 May 2013 10:00:14 +0000 Shutterbug 756224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose my clinic based on reviews online, and then my doctor was chosen for me when I called to make an appointment (there are 10 REs in the practice). Luckily he's the one who I had read about as being caring and compassionate, because that's important to me. That being said though, I think that the success rates and overall staff (nurses, etc) are more important, because basically once you have your plan, you don't see your actual doctor that often anymore. At least that's how I understand it to be, in general. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-756201 Thu, 02 May 2013 09:49:32 +0000 Happygal 756201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: I wish people used Yelp for medical reviews in this area; it appears they're mainly for restaurants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-755983 Thu, 02 May 2013 08:10:05 +0000 Mrs.Someone 755983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually look for doctors on Yelp. Thats how I found my acupuncturist. She was also on the 'Best Doctors' list for my area. </p> <p>For my naturopath, I found an office on Yelp, and I called to ask which ND would be best for managing my thyroid condition. It happened to be the the same doc that treats fertility issues (and helped a friend get pregnant). So bottom line, always look for reviews first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-choose-your-healthcare-provider#post-755900 Thu, 02 May 2013 07:07:22 +0000 Happygal 755900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a fan of my RE. She's never been rude, but time with her has been very rushed and there's no feeling of care in the healthcare--the first time meeting her, including a physical exam and taking in my history, was just under one hour. I actually had a dream last night that I took my mom with me to go get our fertility test results. I stepped out to use the restroom, and when I came back, our RE had met with my mom since I wasn't there, handed off the results, and we were pushed out the door. Clearly I need to move on. </p> <p>I admittedly didn't do a lot of research in picking out this doctor, although the few reviews out there are positive. There are two main hospitals where I live, and I went with the one that has a reputation for providing more personal care. My plan as of now is to get our results from her next week and then move on elsewhere for future work.</p> <p>How did you pick out your doctor? Reviews, recommendations? Has anyone ever switched from their original plan? If you've decided to go a more holistic route (naturopath, acupuncture), I'd love to hear about your decision in doing so as well; I'm making an acupuncture appointment today. </p>