Does this make sense? - ped office procedure

ammommy wrote: Before I go off on my ped's office, let me ask if this makes sense. The kids have sinus infections so they need to get in to get yet another antibiotic. I called the ped's office to make an appointment for Friday. We are leaving for vacation Saturday AM. Tomorrow is crazy busy, so getting them into the doc's tomorrow would be challenging. Anyway, my ped, whom I adore BTW, is on vacation. Great I can just make an appointment with one of the partners. "No, ma'am. You will need to call Friday morning to get an appointment with them. What? You will need to call Friday morning. I can't schedule an appointment 2 days ahead of time with the other doctors." HUH? So I ask why not. I'm told that since my kids aren't the patients of either other doctor, I can't make an appointment ahead of time. I will need to call Friday AM to see if there is a slot (or in my case 2 slots) open for my doc's patients. Fat chance of that happening
Am I nuts to think this is BS or is this common practice?

Honestly, I think that I'm going to bite the bullet, pay the extra $$ and take them to med check to get the stupid prescription.

mckayleesmom replied: Ive never heard of that...

mammag replied: That sounds crazy to me! They are just asking to lose patients with practices like that.

My2Beauties replied: That is absurd. I take Hanna to a ped that has partners and I can make an appt with any partner in the firm at any time - even months in advance

ammommy replied: I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks that is insane. The really frustrating part is that I know exactly the medication and dosage the kids need, but they won't prescribe without seeing the child. I understand the reasoning, but grrrr....
Why does this always happen right before vacation?

luvbug00 replied: What?? If your kids need an antibiotic my ped would bump two check ups for other kids and bring yours in ASAP!

Jamielou replied: Laney goes to a pediatric clinic that has about 6 docs and she can see anyone.... that sounds crazy...

JAYMESMOM replied: That is absurd. I would recommend going to an urgent care clinic or ER if you have to. Since the chance of an opening on Friday is slim to none if you have to wait until then.


My peds used to do that years ago and make all sick patients call the day they needed the appointment. They only prescheduled well checks but soon relized that was assinine and stopped.

3_call_me_mama replied: Actually I'll be the odd one out. Yes it does make sense. (At least in our experience of peditricians offices.)
When people are sick they expect taht you will call first thing in the morning and go in as soon as possible to be seen, this is because they save a few spots for sick calls, typically after teh well baby visits. It is considerate to those that have appointments scheduled in advance, so that they don't take up their spots. Think about how you feel when you go to a yearly check up that you have scheduled well in advance adn you get stuck waiting for an hour cause other people show up with sick kids and take the time that you have scheduled. I think that dr's assume that if you chidl is sick you want them seen as soon as possible, so they want you to call the morning of the visit, versus calling for something like a physical or another problem that arises that isn't an emergency or sickness. (Ex: child having vision problems, don't necessarily get in the same day, but within a week or so.) SO while it may not be ideal for you to go tomorrow to get them there I would suggest calling tomorrow morning adn taking them in then. Also it gets a chance to get the antibiotics (if they are needed) into their system before you go on vacation

ammommy replied:
Everything about your post made sense except this. If I make an appointment, how does that appointment interfere with other appointments?

Also, if my ped had been available, I would have been able to make the appointment. She specifically told me that the reasoning was because I wasn't seeing my normal ped, but one of the other partners.

3_call_me_mama replied: I realize that i read the reasoning wrong.. sorry:) It is annoying that you couldn't make an appointment just becasue they weren't regular patience especailly since yours was away.
The interfering part... if you have a physical scheduled for say 10 am for a 2 year checkup adn 6 people call in and need to get seen cause they are sick, they will run into your time. Causing your appointment to start or end late. AS being sick is considered more of an emergency than a scheduled check up. Also if you schedule for friday, all the people that couldn't get in on thursday and all teh people that would have just called friday will need to be seen. SO it ends up with a pile up. Does that make sense? Either way, i'm sorry your kiddos are sick adn hopefully they can get in quick and get better soon so you can all enjoy your vacation:)

amynicole21 replied: My peds office is the same way! They don't care about the doctor you see though - all sick visits need to be scheduled the morning of the appointment - nothing in advance. I see the reasoning of it, but it's still annoying.

Josie83 replied: Sorry I can't help but I haven't the foggiest how your medical service works! I hope that you get it sorted though and that it doesn't end up costing you a lot of money xx

gr33n3y3z replied: sounds like BS to me

who is covering for your Ped?
If its one of those Dr's there they have to see your kids