ewpmsw
02-01-2011, 04:49 PM
I really like my midwives and felt very supported during my pregnancies, but I am disappointed with the practice overall. Over the past year, things have happened and I chalked them up to the business being in transition (lots of staff turnover, new midwives coming on, one leaving). It's been over a year and things are still disorganized. I am polite when I am there or on the phone with the staff. To the best of my knowledge, I haven't ticked anyone off. I don't think any of the stuff below has been personal and I don't think they're avoiding me. If you get through all the stuff below, TIA for feedback. I've referred a lot of women to this practice and recommended it's midwives on line - I've received and seen negative feedback on some of the same issues I'm sharing, so I know it's not just me. I'm sorry this is so long. I'm all postpartumy and whiney and get a little type-happy when I have time on line without small children around.
Prenatal:
- Doctor brought three residents in to observe transvaginal ultrasound without discussing it with me or explaining who they were. (I introduced myself when they walked in on me with legs in stirrups.) The lubricant he used for this ultrasound was hot, not warm. When I said it was too hot, female resident felt it and agreed. Doc's take: "Well, it's in there now." Midwife apologized and said I should let her know about these kinds of things.
- Prenatal appointment was delayed because midwife was in L&D. Nurse put toddler and I in an exam room, saying she'd be back in a minute with toys to keep DD quiet. Then she left to work in another office for the day. An hour and a half later, I asked a different nurse if we could reschedule and she found the practice doc to do the exam. She never spoke to me, just turned around and got the Doc. At my next appointment, the nurse who'd left me hanging said the front desk staff should have told me the midwife couldn't make it to the appointment. No apology. Pretty clear that people on the staff aren't thrilled with one another.
- 37 weeks pregnant during a very hot summer. Lots of strong Braxton-Hicks contractions, more than enough every hour to meet the "call the midwife if..." criteria from our prenatal info. No return phone call for two business days, plus the weekend. Called on a Monday and was told the nurse and midwives never got the messages.
Postpartum:
- Phone calls to schedule postpartum follow-up not returned until I spoke to the office manager.
- Phone calls to request nurse consult not returned without three follow-up calls. This was over a three-week period. IMO, I am a patient of this practice and call during business hours, so it's reasonable to expect a return call within 48 hours. Because of a previous "we're in transition, please tell me about problems so we can address them" conversation, I emailed my midwife about the unreturned calls. She said she didn't know what I wanted her to do. Um, figure out why communicating with this office is so difficult? I haven't responded because I feel pretty ridiculous at this point. One or two things in a year are no biggie, but it seems like communication is still a problem for this practice. I guess I know I should move on, but am finding it hard to let the midwife part of it go. They were excellent when we were in direct contact, delivered my babies and were wonderful then, too. I don't want to start all over again with a new practice. :(
Prenatal:
- Doctor brought three residents in to observe transvaginal ultrasound without discussing it with me or explaining who they were. (I introduced myself when they walked in on me with legs in stirrups.) The lubricant he used for this ultrasound was hot, not warm. When I said it was too hot, female resident felt it and agreed. Doc's take: "Well, it's in there now." Midwife apologized and said I should let her know about these kinds of things.
- Prenatal appointment was delayed because midwife was in L&D. Nurse put toddler and I in an exam room, saying she'd be back in a minute with toys to keep DD quiet. Then she left to work in another office for the day. An hour and a half later, I asked a different nurse if we could reschedule and she found the practice doc to do the exam. She never spoke to me, just turned around and got the Doc. At my next appointment, the nurse who'd left me hanging said the front desk staff should have told me the midwife couldn't make it to the appointment. No apology. Pretty clear that people on the staff aren't thrilled with one another.
- 37 weeks pregnant during a very hot summer. Lots of strong Braxton-Hicks contractions, more than enough every hour to meet the "call the midwife if..." criteria from our prenatal info. No return phone call for two business days, plus the weekend. Called on a Monday and was told the nurse and midwives never got the messages.
Postpartum:
- Phone calls to schedule postpartum follow-up not returned until I spoke to the office manager.
- Phone calls to request nurse consult not returned without three follow-up calls. This was over a three-week period. IMO, I am a patient of this practice and call during business hours, so it's reasonable to expect a return call within 48 hours. Because of a previous "we're in transition, please tell me about problems so we can address them" conversation, I emailed my midwife about the unreturned calls. She said she didn't know what I wanted her to do. Um, figure out why communicating with this office is so difficult? I haven't responded because I feel pretty ridiculous at this point. One or two things in a year are no biggie, but it seems like communication is still a problem for this practice. I guess I know I should move on, but am finding it hard to let the midwife part of it go. They were excellent when we were in direct contact, delivered my babies and were wonderful then, too. I don't want to start all over again with a new practice. :(