A pediatrician vent!!!!

[DebbieB]

Anytime I've had a well visit, the doctor asks if I have any issues. How long does it take to look at a rash?

 

[mnrose]

Anytime I've had a well visit, the doctor asks if I have any issues. How long does it take to look at a rash?

I have a friend who is a nurse practitioner. Her appointments are tightly scheduled, and time is allotted for what the patient says the issue is. If the patient comes, and then rattles off 6 other things that are also bothering him/her, she quickly gets behind...and then people complain that she is never on schedule. She is now quite insistent that you will be seen for what you said, and if something that should be another appointment, you must make another appointment. I don't blame her. Analyzing a medical condition isn't always as easy as it seems...a simple rash could be an indicator of quite a severe underlying medical condition.

That being said, a well visit is a completely different animal, and my doctor also will do a complete systems review. But, if you are coming in to address a specific complaint, you get that addressed and nothing else.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

 

[mjkacmom]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

Most children see pediatricians here. My 18 year old does.

 

[msjprincess]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

My kids have always gone to a pediatrician. As do most people I know. And they always go in for well visits. It's required for school and camp.

 

[EMom]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

Things are different in Canada. All the children I know go to pediatricians. There are some children, somewhere who go to family doctors, but seeing a pediatrician is common.

 

[OurBigTrip]

A five year old should weigh how much? 40, 50 pounds? 7 pounds overweight isn't trivial.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

And while the way the doc presented may not have been the most diplomatic, I can see his point.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

Pediatrics is considered primary care for children here.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Wow, no wonder the US system is so expensive!

My kids have always gone to a pediatrician. As do most people I know. And they always go in for well visits. It's required for school and camp.

 

[JanaDee]

Why are you going to a pediatrician with her instead of a family doctor? Maybe things are different here in Canada, but only children with some sort of issue see a specialist.

There simply aren't enough of them so family doctors normally handle simple issues like well visits (Who bothers with those anyway if you don't have any concerns? Why waste your time and the doctors?)

A pediatrician specifically treats kids, and isn't a specialist.

Both of mine see pediatricians, though my almost 18 year old is about to age out of his peds office.

 

[mom2rtk]

Wow, no wonder the US system is so expensive!

Lots of reasons the US healthcare system is so expensive. But this isn't one of them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Lots of reasons the US healthcare system is so expensive. But this isn't one of them.

Agree - our insurance pays the same for a pediatric visit as for a family practice visit.

 

[msjprincess]

Wow, no wonder the US system is so expensive!

I have no idea what you mean by that.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Wow, no wonder the US system is so expensive!

Said by someone that obviously has no idea how the US system works.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

They charge for weight checks????????

Wow.

Back in the dark ages (19 years ago ) they told me just to stop in anytime during that week/month/whatever and have my premature son weighed. It wasn't an appointment and they certainly didn't charge me.

Not so dark ages..... My DD is 2 and as a newborn needed some weight checks and there was no copay for us either. I am with everyone else, if the bloodtests came back as she is healthy and she is active you are doing nothing but putting a stigma on the child. The BMI is a guideline not a hard fast rule and 7lbs is not something to worry over.

Happy Hunting!

 

[OurBigTrip]

Not so dark ages..... My DD is 2 and as a newborn needed some weight checks and there was no copay for us either. I am with everyone else, if the bloodtests came back as she is healthy and she is active you are doing nothing but putting a stigma on the child. The BMI is a guideline not a hard fast rule and 7lbs is not something to worry over.

Happy Hunting!

Not everyone.

 

[kuhltiffany]

I have no idea what you mean by that.

At least here in Canada, specialists (including pediatricians) are paid quite a bit more than family doctors. So it saves our system money to see a regular family doctor.

Plus, most people stop doing "well" visits in the preschool years and just see the doctor with their children if they need to. It seems like such an unnecessary cost to be required to go to the doctor when it's really not needed.

Sounds like the systems are set up very differently!

 

[msjprincess]

At least here in Canada, specialists (including pediatricians) are paid quite a bit more than family doctors. So it saves our system money to see a regular family doctor.

Plus, most people stop doing "well" visits in the preschool years and just see the doctor with their children if they need to. It seems like such an unnecessary cost to be required to go to the doctor when it's really not needed.

Sounds like the systems are set up very differently!

Sounds like the system

Like it has already been pointed out, pediatricians are considered primary care physicians not specialists.

 

[laughinplace199]

DS8 was a failure to thrive baby and we needed to go to the pediatrician for weight checks. First it was weekly, then it was monthly, then every 3 mos,, then every 6 mos, etc. until he was about 2. We saw the dr each time and we were never charged a copay for those visits.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

At least here in Canada, specialists (including pediatricians) are paid quite a bit more than family doctors. So it saves our system money to see a regular family doctor.

Plus, most people stop doing "well" visits in the preschool years and just see the doctor with their children if they need to. It seems like such an unnecessary cost to be required to go to the doctor when it's really not needed.

Sounds like the systems are set up very differently!

Peds aren't specialists here. They may charge more--but the codes are the same as a family doc uses, so their reimbursements will be exactly the same.