I found out today that my doctor had been hospitalized and is unable to preform my c section that is scheduled for Friday am. The replacement is young and still in the process of board certification. As I sort through my emotions, I am trying to figure out if I should request a different doctor. I don't really even know what it takes to be board certified. Should I be worried that she isn't yet or more worried that she has only been in practice for a year or two. I love my doctor and think that no matter who the replacement is, I would be thrown by this so I don't know if these are legitimate concerns. I am healthy, baby is healthy, C Section is my second, so it should be a routine surgery. Would lack of experience it certification cause you to request a different doctor?
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I didn't know that an OB could perform a surgery if they aren't board certified? Hmmm... I'd be wary.
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I would be wary. I'm not trying to be alarmist at all (gosh I'm sorry, I seriously I don't want to stress you out), but there are lots of things that could go wrong in a C-section like nicking another organ or perforating a bowel. Yes it is a routine surgery but how do you know if it's routine for this doctor if he's not even certified yet?
I would request a more experienced doctor.
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I would request another doctor. You need to feel comfortable with the person who is taking care of you medically.
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I would call and get clarification about what it means to be board certified and why this Dr is not yet. My decision would depend on the answers to that question. She is a practicing doctor however, and she is trained to do this surgery. I wouldn't necessarily exclude her just because she's only been practicing for a few years.
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I wouldn't want a non-certified doctor to do my birth, vaginal or c-section unless there were other qualified doctors very very close by
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She's licensed, but not state certified (apparently only like 3/4 of doctors are actually board certified). I wonder if she's still in a residency program?....
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@Arden: I don't ever think of a surgery as "routine" because there are no "textbook patients". They are real, they human, they are all different. You just never know. I would prefer someone with experience.
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Further research indicates That four years specialty training plus two years in clinical practice before certification is complete. Her certification is "in process", but she has not had two years in a clinical practice. That said, there must be a fair amount of OBs out there performing surgeries without board certification. She is a member of the state and county medical board.
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@Thenetexan: My doctor just became certified about 6 months before delivery my daughter, she had delivered 100s of babies and done several c-section. I wasn't worried at all. She had been practicing for years and was just waiting on certification, and had delivered several babies (including my niece) without any issue. Meet this doctor and if you feel good about him/her then go with it. Go with your gut. She may have a lot of experience! And also, old/experienced doesn't always mean better....
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@Mrs. Pen: I completely agree, that's why I suggested she find a different doctor who had more experience with this procedure.
I personally would be ok with a new or student provider if it were a low complication vaginal birth or some other less involved procedure. A c-section is a major surgery with more potential to go wrong, so I'd request a more experienced doctor for that.
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She's board eligible and has been doing surgery for 3-4 years. I think I'd be fine with it.
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To me, it wouldn't be about the lack of certification (that is an issue though), it would be SO MUCH MORE about the fact that she is not heavily experienced. She doesn't have 15+years of success and experience and tons of reviews, ya know?
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I would want to meet the doctor first to get a gut feeling. Ultimately I would MUCH rather have a newer more up to date doctor than one who sticks with old school ways (despite required continuing education, etc). All doctors have to start somewhere.
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@Mrs. Jacks: Same.
Ask her how many she has done by herself. Gauge your comfort level with her. Board certification doesn't automatically turn you into a better doctor or surgeon. But experience can make up for a lot. That being said, I'm so glad I got the "new" OB in my practice and not the older, more experienced one. He was more sensitive to my birth experience, and generally a more caring individual. So I was plenty comfortable despite his lack of "years of experience".
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@lemondrop: agree!
Not the same situation be we switched the girls pediatrician to a doctor not a whole lot older than my husband who is just starting out. He is WAY better than the previous pediatrician who was older. I know your situation is involving surgery but I bet she's really on top of things!
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I'd probably be okay with it. Board certification doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of is she good or not. I'd meet with her and ask questions, just like I would for any other doc.
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My doctor for LO1 was not board certified. I didn't even know until after I had her, but everything went fine. I didn't have a C-Section, not sure if that would have made things different, but she was an awesome doctor.
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I would not be phased at all. My husband is just a few years out from residency in a different specialty and some of his friends were OB residents, who are just now becoming board certified. I know what their training was like and would trust any of them to do my C-section next week. Because training programs tend to be at major regional hospitals, chances are your new, board-eligible, but not yet board-certified OB, has had more recent experience with complicated pregnancies than a lot of board-certified OBs practicing in rural areas across the country. I would care more if the OB wasn't board-eligible, but the hospital my husband works at won't even grant privileges for certain specialities if the doc isn't board-eligible.
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I always prefer the doctors that have been cutting people for years. But new doctors are often more up to date on new technologies and procedures.
I'd meet with her and then go with your gut.
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The OB who performed my c-section had four years of experience, so she's not board-certified yet. I was seeing hospital-based nurse-midwives and she was the OB on duty at the time.
She did a great job. I had an easier recovery than most of my friends who had regular vaginal deliveries. If I have a repeat c-section I definitely want her to do it.
That said, because you have time to find someone else, there's no reason for you to uncritically accept your doctor's replacement. You want to make sure that you're comfortable.
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I wouldn't be worried. But I don't know if I'm the best judge - I kind of have the "everyone needs to get experience to become experienced" mindset, so I tend to often use students/ newly licensed etc.
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@Mrs. Jacks: +1.
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