Pediatrician vs Family Practice?

[MrsPinecone]

Which do you use and why?

Our whole family uses the same doc, and I love it. They don't see as many babies, so they make a huge deal over how big he's gotten, remember our names every time we go in, and take their time with the Pinenut. It's not a "crank 'em through the mill" type office like so many pediatric offices that I have seen.

Also, we can all get prescriptions for something from the same doc in the event that we give each other something. I was able to get our scripts for thrush w/o having to call the pediatrician for ds and the OB for me.

ETA: Our doc is very up on the pediatric end of things, as well as being pretty knowledgeable about breastfeeding-- his wife is a pediatrician who bfed all 4 of their children. They also have a doc on call 24 hours.

[ladywaterwind]

We do family practice. I love our doctor, always has the extra time to spend with us, really gets to know us, remember little bits from previous conversations and everything.

We took DD to a peds office a few times, when she was just out of the hospital. I didn't like them. New parents and it's her first drs visit and they sent in a nurse p., who was wearing jeans and flip flops. Granted, I'm laid back, but that was a bit much for me. Not to mention they were a huge group, and you never were going to see the same doc, sometimes you might get a nurse. And they gave me this run around about bringing DD in for a weight check, which wasn't charged. And then suddenly one of the drs would have to come in and double check, which means they would charge the visit.

[luvmy3boys]

I also do family prac and she sees all of us. We really like her and she is so good with all of the kids. The practice I go to sees 50% less patients than an office that size (4 docs) so they have a lot of time to spend with patients. We just found her when we moved 3 years ago. I used her with my last baby and I will never use an ob again (unless I have high risk problems or something). It was great!! I had an awesome delivery and experience with her there.
I used to go to a pediatrician before and I don't really see why you would need one over a family doc, they seem to know the same things. Whenever she is unsure of what something might be, she pulls in another doc. I highly respect her for that. Everytime that happened the other doc concurred with her diagnosis but it was great that she had more eyes, imo.

[angielee]

Having a family Doctor sounds great! I don't think there are very many god docters around here. We use Peds their Doc is wonderful. As far as my and Dh we really dont have a Doc. Dh hasn't been to the Doc in years and besides OBGYN I have either.

[hotcouponmama]

Our kids are at strictly peds clinic and here's why I love it...

The docs only do kids - so they are really up to date on kids meds issues from HPV vaccines for girls to drug interactions that affect kids.

They have unusual office hours because they know that parents work.

I can get Sunday/Sat appts for emergency visits instead of going to the ER.

24 hour ped on duty for night time calls.

Our regular family practitioner doesn't offer those things.

Plus a kid friendly office in both design and content (and lots of good mags with coupons that AREN'T at my family doctor's office!!!)

[mdhull]

We used to go to a pediatrician who was very conservative; we loved him! But when he left that practice, we didn't want any of the doctors, so we're back to family practice. And I don't like the OB's I've "consulted" with. I had one say that after a woman has a c-section, she can't handle the pain of natural childbirth. The more recent OB we checked out told me that I was trying to make decisions I wasn't qualified to make. I was a bit offended since I do have 5 children, and my last two FP doctors told me I was in charge. I think OB's and some pediatricians go "worst-case scenario" with a situation, and I like a conservative, rule out the obvious approach first.

[mctrness]

We go to a Family Doc but we can call her Call-service 24 hours a day (she offers it to all her patients) and she takes the majority of her call so we ususally speak directly to her which is awesome. She has rooms that are specific to kids. also, like someone mentioned above they love it when we come in because they love to see my dd. We are on a first name basis regardless of how many or few times we visit. But the lastest thing i love is that whenever we have a prescription they always give me samples rather than me filling the script. that kicks bootie!

[Macaela25]

Our kids are at strictly peds clinic and here's why I love it...

The docs only do kids - so they are really up to date on kids meds issues from HPV vaccines for girls to drug interactions that affect kids.

They have unusual office hours because they know that parents work.

I can get Sunday/Sat appts for emergency visits instead of going to the ER.

24 hour ped on duty for night time calls.

Our regular family practitioner doesn't offer those things.

Plus a kid friendly office in both design and content (and lots of good mags with coupons that AREN'T at my family doctor's office!!!)

You took every word straight from my mouth, HCM.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

we do a pediatrician and we love them. Our doctor is part of a husband and wife team and when we take more than one kid his wife assists. They are just great. best doctors we have ever seen. Dr. Fall is on the school board and is in tune with the kids. Plus we never wait more than 15 min in the waiting room unless there is an emergency. And there is this big fort in the waiting room which is great. When you have a baby (or babies) the office sends you flowers in the hospital, and they are just great. Plus like HCM said saturday and late evening appts. Durring the summer they do Sunday appts too,.

[jonjaktez]

My kids see a pediatrician and always have. We get to choose which ped. dr was want to see or the nurse p. I usually choose the doctor who's name is on the front door(he owns the joint) becuase I really like him and he's really good with the kids. He also is very involved in "doctors without borders" type assistants in mexico. He's very up on everything to do with the kids. Since my kids are older we don't have to call after hours but when we do they are just as good on the phone as they are in person. And if they won't call in meds, they will explain to us why. I really like them.