I've been putting off finding a new pediatrician. I decided today was the day that I would call "Clinic 6" at the University Hospital and make an appointment for the boys' flu shots. I told the secretary-front-desk-person that I had new insurance and I was looking for a new pediatrician. Her first question was what my preference of gender was. I told her I thought a man would be good for my boys. Then she said, "Oh! Dr. ------- is a great doctor! He's so fun and the patients love him!" So I said great! sign me up! After we set up the appointment, I had a nagging feeling so I asked her if Dr. ------- was a resident. She said he was. Then I asked her what year he was and she said, "He's in his first year, but he's our most requested doctor."
So my question to you is, do you think this secretary-front-desk-person was just pawning off their newest resident on me because I didn't know any of the doctors? Would you take your children to a 1st year resident? Have any of you had experiences with resident doctors?
11 comments:
I wouldn't personally go to a resident. I loved Dr. George Durham from the Bryner Clinic on like 1st South and 5th eastish. Very experienced,,, His wife is actually the chief justice on Utah's supreme court. Look him up. That's my suggestion. 31 years experience.
We had a first year resident for a few years and loved her, until she got her first job across the country and we had to find another doctor. She was great though. She spent a lot of time talking to us and making sure all our questions were answered. She knew her stuff for the most part since she had just been studying everything, but then again there was a lack of experience. We had some concerns with Van's circumcision and eventually found out she just didn't have enough experience to know exactly what advice to give us. Then again, they always have an attending they can go to for questions or a second opinion. I say, try him out. You might really like him.
What have you got against first year residents? My husband is a first year resident ... Just kidding! I mean he really is, but I was kidding about the attack part -- oh, you know what I mean!
I have no issues whatsoever going to a resident (OK, unless it's for heart surgery or something, then maybe). I love the residents. I think they're sharp and they're paranoid, so they look into things more. Plus, like Jeni said, they have to run everything past their attending before ushering you out the door.
Weren't you taking them in for flu shots? Come on, Nancy. A nurse can do that.
P.S. Yes, the secretary was shoving you off onto the new guy because you didn't know better. If you didn't go back to that office, I would cite that reason instead of the first-year resident deal. I hate it when people don't disclose details that they know might influence your decision.
If you lived in Utah County I would tell you to go to my pediatrician, I love love love him. He called me from home on his day off to check on Liam when he was sick right after we brought Alivia home. I swear he is the BEST!
We had a great experience in Clinic 6 with a 2nd year resident. She was James' doctor starting at birth till 2 years later when she finished and we moved for residency. I might feel a little nervous about a 1st year resident, but if you pick one with more experience, you don't get to keep them as long.
I also really liked a couple of the residents who helped when I was in the hospital having James. I liked one of the OB residents better than my own doctor! And an anesthesiology resident even did my epidural. I found out that she was in her 3rd year of residency, 2nd year of anesthesia. At the time, I thought it sounded like she had plenty of experience, but she's exactly where Jeromy is now, and he hasn't even done OB yet! So I was probably one of her very first OB epidurals.
Isn't it funny that our husbands are residents and we want people to trust them, but we don't necessarily want residents treating us? I guess we know too much!
I take Brookelle to CL6 at the U and we have a resident (he's on his last year) and he's FANTASTIC! Any small question he may have an attending is in the room with us! I agree with Lorena they're paranoid and I like that fact when they are taking care of my baby!
We took our kids to clinic 6 and saw two different doctors. We started seeing both as second years and really liked them both.
I think residents are great!
Before we moved, my doctors were residents at Loma Linda and we had wonderful experiences! And there was always the big dogs right there when anything wasn't peachy-keen and I loved all the time and attention, and one had been a nurse for 20+ years before med school and the other had done something medicallish for a first career as well, so my view may be skewed. Since we moved to NorCal, we've had experienced Drs, and in the pediatrics department, I'm finding myself leaning toward appointments with the N.P.s. I am all about bedside manner and shorter waits with my kids.
I used a resident in clinic 6 while we were still in SLC and I use a resident here in Albuquerque for both my girls. She is great and all residents are supervised by an attending- so I think my kids actually get better care because they are being seen by 2 docs instead of just one. I'm also seeing a resident for all my prenatal care too. I think I may continue to see a resident even after my husband isn't.
I also find it much easier to schedule appointments and call with questions when I'm seeing a resident. The attendings, especially at a teaching hospital, are always so booked up and busy- Its so much easier for me to deal with the residents.
Hey you! We go to the IHC clinic, Alpine Medical on 1st South. I switched to a more experienced doctor when Brenan was born because the hospital required it. I originally had a Nurse Practitioner that I loved, but questioned her because she was a N.P. I was wrong. I am going back to her. She listens and gives me more than enough info. I will learn from this.
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