I've never seen this before - we've been trying to get through to our pediatrician's office to schedule the second half of LO's flu shot and his missing rotavirus vaccine because they forgot to make the appt last time, and haven't been able to get through. For the past MONTH. We've left message after message, and I know he won't die or anything without the vaccines right now, but it does make me worry about how hard it is to get through to the pediatrician.
Is this normal?!
honeydew / 7303 posts
@spaniellove: not normal at all!! My pediatricians office always answers and I talk to a person. I'd probably stop in and see what's up!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Totally not normal. I think you may have to drive out there to talk to them about it.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
Not normal at all! a month is outrageous, what if it was medically necessary for him to be seen right away?
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Is it possible they don't know they have a problem?
We have an online portal that we can access, do you have something similar where you can send an email?
pomegranate / 3565 posts
Most definitely not normal. I wouldn't want a pediatrician that I couldn't contact! What happens when you call when they are closed? Do you at least get an answering service?
honeydew / 7916 posts
I've been trying the sick triage line (and others, as has my husband) and they've never returned a single message. Driving out there seems pretty logical except they're half an hour away. I'm starting to worry about getting his next refill of meds at this rate, too.
squash / 13208 posts
@spaniellove: do they have a website? Maybe there is a post about the lines being down with a new phone # posted?
kiwi / 549 posts
@spaniellove: they have to know their system isn't working if it's been a month. I don't see how they couldn't. I think your only ooption is to stop in and ask them.
honeydew / 7916 posts
It's not that their system isn't working, just that no one is answering and every line goes straight to voicemail and no one returns messages...sorry for the confusion.
persimmon / 1427 posts
@spaniellove: During office hours someone always answers the phone. If I have a question, a nurse will call me back same day.
If our pediatrician's office wasn't returning phone calls, I'd find a new doctor. Heck, it would probably be a deal breaker that I couldn't speak to a person when I called.
coconut / 8472 posts
That doesn't seem normal and wouldn't be acceptable to me. Someone answers at our office 24 hours a day. During business hours it's the receptionist who leaves a message for the nurse to call me back, or it's the answering service who pings the on-call PA/Nurse. I usually get a call back within 5-15 minutes. A message that's never returned? Unacceptable.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@spaniellove: My RE had their nurse line go straight to voicemail. It was odd, so I called and spoke to their receptionist and told them that what it was doing. Is there anyone you could talk to to inform them of this?
It's crazy that it's been doing this for a full month. Sorry. Hope you get it sorted out.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
That's still not normal. You should be able to physically talk to someone when you call. Sometimes I'm placed on hold for a minute or two but that's it. Messages for the nurse are generally returned within the hour (during normal office hours). After hours, I'll get a call back within 15 minutes or so.
pomegranate / 3127 posts
Whoa, that's weird, not normal and not acceptable! What if someone has an emergency?
Can your husband drop by and see if the office hasn't closed down or something?
And is finding a different practice an option? or at the very least, can your doctor give you their cell number? Our pediatrician does that, and I think it's very common.
pineapple / 12234 posts
I'd swing by to make the appt! I was on hold for 25 minutes to make an appt the other day but it was a Saturday (so only sick children could be seen) and they were only open for 3 hours so it was pretty busy.
honeydew / 7916 posts
Well, I learned the much faster way to make an appointment - they use Mychart as part of a hospital system. Never calling again!
pomegranate / 3577 posts
@spaniellove: So not normal. And completely NOT okay. What if you have an emergency? I would think about switching peds...
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
I would drop in or gave Dh drop in for you. 
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
23 comments