Does anybody take their kids to a GP instead of a pediatrician?

[Rhonda in TX]

I love my GP. He actually listens and talks to me. He always treats me like he has all the time in the world and never rushes through appointments. I'm not so wild about my kids' pediatricians. I've been thinking of taking them to my GP. My kids are 12 and almost-11. Is there any definite advantage to a pediatrician?

[JoyfulMama]

I use a family doc over a pediatrician - great womb-to-tomb care!

 

Ask your GP what age they are comfortable treating - some GPs prefer not to deal with the hormonal issues of puberty, and others welcome it!

[Parrothead]

We use a GP. We haven't lived close enough to a pediatrician to make it worth our while in years.

[Tracey in TX]

We switched our kiddos to a GP at 4y/o. Our family doc seemed more knowledgeable than their ped, so we began using the same GP five years ago. I love having our family using only one dr office.

[Sunshine State Sue]

I loved our old family physicians - husband and wife team. They cared for ds from birth to age 6 when they moved and we moved. I haven't found one I've liked since. If I had one I loved, I'd definitely take my dc to him/her. My opinion is that pediatricians are for children who get sick a lot. GPs are fine for normal, healthy children.

 

But, not all GPs will see kids, I think.

[Tree House Academy]

I think it depends on the kids, the GP, and the age. My kids are 5 and 9 and they do go to a pediatrician. When they were smaller, the ped docs were better able to relate what was going on...especially ear infections. A lot of GPs miss ear infections or misdiagnose them because a child's ears are a lot different than an adults. Peds also know more about kids. I like that our ped. does a well side and a sick side for visits, which most docs in GP offices do not do. Also, you think about a sick older person waiting to see a GP and here comes a 5 year old full of energy with a snotty nose. It is not a pleasant experience. Kids are kids and I just prefer a kids doctor take care of mine.

 

Personally, I would think it would be hard to look at a 90 year old woman, a 25 year old man, and a 2 year old child all in the same hour or so. I have a GP that I see and he told me he prefers parents take kids to a ped.

 

Now, that said, if my kids were adolescents like yours, I would probably be fine with a GP. A ped doc only sees kids till they are 18 and even then, I think an 18 year old would feel weird going to a ped. Most of the time, the kids I see there are between birth and 12 or so. I rarely see older kids.

[vettechmomof2]

We do and are fine with that. Although my daughter still has to see her endo now every 6 months as well but for all other items relating to health she sees our family doc.

He has 7 children of his own so I think he has an idea on puberty.:tongue_smilie: Most are girls.

Allene

[Laurie4b]

I took ours to a family doctor from birth, starting with ds#2. He had more common sense and I felt more comfortable with him.

[jenn-]

My DD went to a pedi her first year of life, that's what Medicare paid for. When I got my own insurance, I switched her to a GP, mainly because we lived in a small town and there were no pedis within a reasonable distance (we moved when she was 1 from her old office). I love our GP. He takes care of us and has no problem referring out when needed. That said my kids are relatively healthy, and if they had been more sickly, I might have hunted for a pedi.

[Rhonda in TX]

My kids are generally very healthy. DS had strep throat a few years ago. I can't remember the last time DD was at the doctor.

 

I will check with him to see if he takes kids. I hadn't thought of that.

 

More experiences and opinions welcome. :)

[Laura Corin]

We use a GP. In the UK a pediatrician is a specialist who deals with serious illnesses, so GPs see a lot of children. I'd check if your GP has child experience.

 

Laura

[dirty ethel rackham]

We use a family practice doc. I had used a pediatrician for about 4 years, but switched when I had had enough. The pediatricians around here loved the prescription pad. They never saw a sniffle that didn't need an Rx. Even though there was plenty of evidence 15 years ago that they were overprescribing.

 

My beefs with pediatricians:

1. They say they are supportive of breastfeeding, but when there is the slightest variation from the chart, they recommend formula. They refuse to acknowledge that they don't know squat about breastfeeding and refuse to defer to the people who do know. A baby is big - needs formula. A baby is small - need formula. A baby doesn't sleep - give formula and cry it out. A baby turns 4 months old - give formula. This was not just my ped, but most of the women I knew dealt with these problems. My oldest was a big baby (nearly 11 lbs) and a good nurser. Because he was so big, I was told that he needed formula. I didn't listen to her and a good thing - he is allergic to millk. My second son was a normal weight (8 lbs. 14 oz.) and he was a constant nurser. He grew fine, but I was told to supplement because he was nursing too much. No thank you - I get to decide what is too much. At about 1 yr. he stopped eating solid foods. She told me that I needed to wean him (remove his ONLY food source) to force him to eat solids - he was just lazy. As it turns out, he had tooth decay on a deformed tooth - when fixed he started eating again. I was told to wean because he had cavities (he had 1) - she would not accept any research that contradicted what she "knew."

2. They don't know very much about nutrition. I was told that my children needed to have baby food meant for babies over like a year (forgot what those were called.) She scolded me for not giving my kids "meat sticks." Eww, gross. We fed him real food -home cooked from scratch food and used a baby mill when necessary. She kept trying to tell me that "meat sticks" were healtheir than my tender pot roast.

3. They stick their noses in where it doesn't belong regarding parenting. They seem to think that an MD after their name meant that they were experts in areas that they had no training - like parenting. But they had no trouble telling moms that they held their children too much, must never take a baby into bed with them or they will grow up emotionally stunted - hog wash, that babies need to cry to exercise their lungs - again, hogwash, breathing, laughing, playing peek-a-boo exercises the lungs without all the stress hormones that interfere with growth. When I pressed her on where she got this information - did they have to do research on this - she said that no- everyone knows these things. So actually, she did not get training on these things. I was constantly taken to task on every parenting wrong I was making even though my children were developing normally, if not accellerated - not that that matters.

 

Now am sure that there are plenty of pediatricians out there who use common sense rather then fear mongering to help guide parents. They were just few and far between around here. Those that were good did not accept new patients. I found that the family practice docs were better listeners and treated the moms as partners in healthcare rather than children who must obey the almighty white coat. I love our family practice doc. He is one of the most caring people I have met. We got him young (like when he was doing his residency) and he never treated me like I didn't know things or that I was a threat to him because I read.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean for this to be a rant, but it got kind of long. You peds out there - I hope that I did not offend you - I am sure that you don't treat people like the peds I experienced.

[Perry]

Depends what you mean by a GP. Among medical professionals (in the US -it varies in other countries) a GP is usually considered someone who has only completed a one year internship after medical school. They are not board certified. In contrast, a Family Practice physician has completed a 3 year residency after medical school. The two terms used to be synonymous, but aren't now.

 

I personally would not be comfortable with a GP unless I knew them very well. I would have no problems taking my kids to an FP rather than a pediatrician, unless they had a very unusual or complicated illnesses.

 

If your doctor calls him/herself a GP, I would look into their credentials.

 

From wiki:

 

United States

 

All medical practitioners must hold a license to practice medicine in the US. The only requirement is that the physician be enrolled or have completed a year of training, more commonly called a rotating internship. The few licensed medical practitioners who do not complete 3 to 10 year residency, are legally allowed to practice medicine in the state where they are licensed.

The population of this type of medical practitioner is dwindling, however. Currently the United States Navy has many of these general practitioners, formally known as General Medical Officers, in active practice.

The US now holds a different definition for the term "general practitioner". The two terms “general practitioner†and “family medicine†doctor were synonymous prior to 1970. At that time both terms (if used within the US) referred to someone who completed medical school and the 1 year required internship and then worked as a general family doctor or as a hospitalist. Completion of a postgraduate specialty training program or residency in family medicine was at that time not a requirement.

A medical practitioner who specializes in “family medicine†must now complete a residency in family medicine, and must be eligible for board certification now required by most hospitals and health plans. It was not until the 1970s that family medicine (formerly known as family practice) was recognized as a specialty in the US.[1]

Many licensed family medical practitioners in the United States after this change began to use the term "general practitioner" to refer to those practitioners who previously did not complete a family medicine residency. A family practitioner is licensed to practice strictly family medicine. Family medical practitioners after completing medical school must then complete three to four additional years of residency in family medicine. Three hundred hours of medical education within the prior six years is also required to be eligible to sit for the board certification exam.

Between 2003 and 2009 the board certification process is being changed in family medicine and all other American Specialty Boards to a continuous series of yearly competency tests on differing areas within the given specialty. The American Board of Family Medicine, as well as other specialty boards, is requiring additional participation in continuous learning and self-assessment to enhance clinical knowledge, expertise and skills. The Board has created a program called the "Maintenance of Certification Program for Family Physicians" (MC-FP) which will require family practitioners to continuously demonstrate proficiency in four areas of clinical practice: professionalism, self assessment/lifelong learning, cognitive expertise, and performance in practice.

Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) in adolescent medicine, geriatric medicine, sports medicine, sleep medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine are available for those board-certified family physicians with additional residency training requirements.

[Melissa in Australia]

We use a GP. In the UK a pediatrician is a specialist who deals with serious illnesses, so GPs see a lot of children.

Laura

same here in Australia! I think you need a referral from a GP to see a pediatrician here.

[Amy loves Bud]

We all go to the same Family Physician. I switched the older two over to him when they were about 6 and 8. The baby has seen him since birth.

 

Our doc was a year ahead of me in med school and one of his partners was in my class. They are the best. I wouldn't go back

 

I cannot imagine a family physician in practice who couldn't diagnose an ear infection, regardless of the age. I've never come across such an animal, but I suppose they do exist.

[PCA]

I agree with Ellen, I have had the same experience with my peds. I wont even touch on the vaccination issues, and our rights as parents to choose what is best for our children.

 

There are some good peds out there, but I feel more and more they are few and far between!

[Tree House Academy]

Yeah, I do feel more pressure to do vaccines when I take them to the Ped. :( I guess that is definitely one drawback.

[angela in ohio]

We all have the same doctor, which was the draw originally for us. (Well, that and the fact that the two pediatricians I tried were lousy.) I am not a huge fan of other people's kids being out of control, so a pediatricians waiting room is the Last. Place. on. Earth. I want to be.

 

I love that she is a mom, with dc a few years older than mine, and that she know our whole family. I love that she can treat us all for the same thing at once. We go to the doctor very, very rarely, other than a yearly well visit, but when I had influenza so bad last year, she checked everyone out and wrote out prescriptions (not that we could fill them, there was a shortage at the pharmacies.) She is not antibiotic or new vaccine happy, so I know that when she recommends something, it is with thought.

[jojomojo]

We all go to the same family practice. I have had the same experience mentioned above with pediatricians. The last time I took any of my kids to a ped was when they (rudely) handed me a form to sign to say that I am knowingly endangering the health of my child (by not vax'ing). We had to get in to see a doc that day, only appt. I could get, and I knew it was going to be an unpleasant experience. Before that visit, the last one was when one of the docs tried to forcefully retract my intact son (at 9 months old) and insisted there was something wrong with him and that he needed to be cut. So, not only do I not care for the attitude, but I question their education (in this area anyway).

[chaik76]

We did until he closed his practice and moved over to the hospital. Our FP (family practitioner) was absolutely excellent...probably the best doctor I have ever had. I was really sad to see him go. He didn't do babies under 18 months though. Since he's closed my children are now at a pediatrician who I also really like. But I loved when all of us were going to the same dr.!

[Harriet Vane]

We have a fantastic general practitioner. He is caring and absolutely brilliant--just the combo I want in a doctor. I think he does as well or better than a pediatrician.

[Rhonda in TX]

He has a "family practice". I didn't know there was a difference.

[Perry]

My dh is on the faculty of a Family Practice residency program. When they have to kick a resident out of the program (academic shortcomings, integrity/honesty/personality issues, etc.), the resident often goes into practice as a GP if they aren't able to find a different residency to accept them. If they have been kicked out of a residency, there is a very good reason to steer clear.

 

Sounds like it isn't an issue in your case.

[Jugglin'5]

I took ours to a family doctor from birth, starting with ds#2. He had more common sense and I felt more comfortable with him.

 

 

 

Yep, ever since we left Bossier City, LA, I haven't been able to find a ped.that I didn't feel like was just going through a checklist , or constantly looking at us suspiciously. Our FP has common sense and he is great with my kids. I always feel comfortable around him. He even came to the hospital to do my last two kids' newborn checks!

Edited December 23, 2008 by Jugglin'5

[stripe]

This is a fantastic thread -- I was just thinking today (I'm perpetually unhappy with my kids' pediatricians; I've changed several times) that maybe I should try a family doctor.

 

I have been most unhappy with unsolicited parenting advice, and several acts of ethnic stereotyping, made all the more hilarious because they guessed wrong!

 

I am quite interested in the idea that pediatricians are better for sick kids.

 

I must say, as a teen, I was given a rubella booster and broke out in a rash on my face and chest. I went to urgent care, where the doctor diagnosed me as having some skin disease. It was gone a few days later, and I returned to the doctors at the teen practice, who told me doctors who see mainly adults are not used to vaccine-related complications. Other than that, I have no amazing stories about the wonders of pediatricians.

 

I've found them generally frustrating, and certainly do not feel like there is any "teamwork."

[Alice]

As a pediatrician, this thread is interesting and humbling. :) Sorry for all the bad experiences people have had. I always click on these kind of threads to get an idea of what people don't like in their docs...hopefully it makes me better.

 

I used to say in medical school that I couldn't be a family doctor because I'm not smart enough. Seriously, I found it incredibly overwhelming to have to feel up to date on medications, diseases, treatments etc. for all age groups. The family doctors I knew that were good were amazingly good and I really admired them. For me it was ultimately really more about loving pediatrics and wanting to do that than choosing not to do something else.

 

Bottom line...a good doctor is a good doctor. Probably doesn't matter the specialty so much. Well...I wouldn't take my 5 yr old son to an OB/GYN but youd know what I mean.

[akmommy]

We do. We have a great GP who is a mother herself so she was a great resource when I was a new mom.

There was only one Ped in the area when my oldest was born and I know of one case where he misdiagnosed a little boy twice. First he said the boy had the flu, then he said the boy was trying to get attention. When the parents finally took him to Providence Hospital in Anchorage it was discovered that he had two brain tumors. There was no way I was going to trust that man with the care of my babies.

[Ottakee]

Well, I have 2 children that were medically fragile/intensive as infants and still have very complex medical needs. We use a family practice for them and I LOVE it. The Nurse Practitioner that we see used to work peds at the local children's hospital so she knows her stuff.

 

I like it that they are very willing to refer us to specialists when needed and they dont' think that they know it all---after all my girls are the only 2 known cases in the world to have what they have (both neuclear DNA mutations and mitochondrial mutations).

 

We get great service at the doctor's office and she always takes time with my kids.

 

We honestly ever tried a ped a few times when the PA in our current doctor's office felt that my then infant daughter was too much for him so he sent us to this ped. Well, the ped totally missed my dd's breathing issues and told me nothing was wrong--even though I specifically asked him to check her O2 levels. He was shocked to see me in the hospital cafeteria the next morning after they admitted her a few hours after he saw her with 02 stats of 74%.

 

We had a great ped. growing up as kids. She really knew her stuff.

 

I think that a GREAT deal also depends on the office staff and nurses in the office. They are often the gate keepers to the doctor and without them on your side, you are sunk.

[Holly IN]

We stopped the pediatrician visits when my kids were 9, 6, 5 years old. I have 3 children. We switched at the request of the 9 and 6 yr old. They got tired of the pediatrician ranting at me for my decision in regards to my kids care. They got sick of it and so did I. She acted like she wants to be my kids mother. The boys really saw through that. All 3 kids switched to dh and I's family dr. They love him dearly. He respects my decisions in regards to my kids care. He told me one time that I am part of the medical team like he is part of us. Spoken like a true friend!! He also said (he said this to the kids) that he is my friend and theirs as well.

 

I am glad I switched the kids over but wished I did it alot sooner!!

 

Holly

[CactusPair]

When my dc go to the doc, which isn't often, we go to the GP. There aren't any pediatricians in our town anymore, but we do have a great family practice. I've been very happy with them.

 

Depending on where we've lived I've used both GP's and peds. The family drs. are better listeners and provide excellent care.

[Rhonda in TX]

As a pediatrician, this thread is interesting and humbling. :) Sorry for all the bad experiences people have had. I always click on these kind of threads to get an idea of what people don't like in their docs...hopefully it makes me better.

 

I used to say in medical school that I couldn't be a family doctor because I'm not smart enough. Seriously, I found it incredibly overwhelming to have to feel up to date on medications, diseases, treatments etc. for all age groups. The family doctors I knew that were good were amazingly good and I really admired them. For me it was ultimately really more about loving pediatrics and wanting to do that than choosing not to do something else.

 

Bottom line...a good doctor is a good doctor. Probably doesn't matter the specialty so much. Well...I wouldn't take my 5 yr old son to an OB/GYN but youd know what I mean.

 

If I had a pediatrician I loved, I wouldn't change. My best friend's DH is a pediatrician and I'd love for him to be my kids' doctor. Unfortunately, he lives 10 hours away. He is our doctor-on-call, though. :)

 

I think it's more about me loving my family doctor than being incredibly unhappy with my pediatrician. A good pediatrician (really, any good doctor) is found gold. :)

[Alice]

 

I think it's more about me loving my family doctor than being incredibly unhappy with my pediatrician. A good pediatrician (really, any good doctor) is found gold. :)

 

If you love your family doctor than I'd go with him/her. There is a good family doctor in our area that we refer to when we have kids that want to stop seeing the pediatrician. Some teenagers are more comfortable with us since they know us...some can't stand the idea of seeing a baby doctor. I think it is all about finding someone you trust and whose personality and style of doctoring is right for you.

 

ETA: I just saw your subject line. You didn't make me feel bad. :) And I wasn't offended by anything on this thread. I do always find it interesting to read to get an idea of what people like and don't like in a doctor.