I started with Dr. Chi because he was open to alternate vax schedule as my LO had a VARES reportable vax reaction at 3 months. Dr. Chi was always pleasant when treating my LO. We traveled 30 minutes one way to see him. He does not incorporate much time for Q&A, is not associated with any hospital, but I overlooked these things because he's knowledgeable & thorough.
After a year of care with Dr. Chi, he changed his vaccination policy. In effect, the new policy would fire any patients who did not vax according to the CDC schedule. This was fine for me, because we were only 1 vax behind. The office manager gave my husband the memo. The language of the memo insinuated I could discuss & catch up the next visit we had. I got a call 40 days later saying I was late in complying. I called & tried to fix the issue, explaining that I didn't know there was a time limit. The office manager, Heather, acted as if I should know because she claimed she told my husband.
I stated that it wasn't on the memo & if it was important it should've been on there. She talked down to me. I tried to resolve the issue so she gave us 3 days to catch up. She also allowed us a week to get documentation for the exemption. When I confronted her about her ill treatment of me, she continued to bully me & acted as if she hadn't said anything untoward. She was consistently rude & even insulted my relationship with my husband. That's just one tiny example of her unprofessional behavior. I tried to resolve our conversation gone awry. She tried to accuse me of being rude when I confronted her & took no responsibility for her misbehavior. Alternatively, I apologized when she misinterpreted my distress for rudeness & explained that I was anxious because 3 days was a short time to comply.
I went to the office 2 days later to comply with the new vax policy. I also had VARES & my last pediatrician's office to fax the info. When I went to this practice, I asked for a copy of my records because Heather threatened that if I didn't comply or get my records in 3 days, the office would charge me $35 to copy them. So I requested a copy in written form, stating that I needed a copy in case my "tenuous relationship with the office manager wasn't resolved." I asked for a formal apology. I was told by Katherine, an office worker, that if I decided to leave due to the new vax policy, we would not be welcome back. I did comply with the policy, but stated I had reservations about staying there because I was mistreated by Heather who had relentlessly bullied me.
[I did ask Dr. Chi why he decided to change his policy. He said that it's a liability to treat patients who chose not to vax. He said that we don't decide the schedule, the CDC does. When I reiterated my concern due to my LO's reaction, he backpedaled & said he thought 4 vaccines were too many for one visit. He said he would reduce the amount to 2 vaccines a visit for us, but he could not justify only 1 per visit because it was not cost effective.]
I received my LO's papers within a week. I called 2 weeks later to see if I could change my LO's 2 year well visit. Katherine said, according to the system my LO was discharged because I had requested her records. She took my info & had Heather call me back.
Heather called back & said, "What's the problem?" I calmly explained that there was obviously a gross miscommunication. I continued by trying to solve any issues & resolve the problem I had with her previously. She just said repeatedly that anyone who gets their records is automatically discharged. As no one had informed me of this arbitrary rule, I tried to discuss a solution. Again, communication broke down with Heather & she began to bully me. She told me that I did not comply with their policy when I had. She lied & said I never provided them with the medical exemption, when Igot both the VAERS report & the previous pediatrician's full records faxed over to them. I said I would fax them again, but she ignored that solution. When I pressed the issue, she quoted a portion of my letter saying "without a formal apology". Heather said she presented Dr. Chi with that [mal] information, that I hadn't given documentation, so he discharged my LO. What she told him was a lie and she manipulated him to discharge us due to her inability to be professional.
In effect, Heather runs the show, not Dr. Chi. IF Dr. Chi is aware of her gross mistreatment of his patients it's reprehensible. IF Dr. Chi is not aware, it's because he chooses not to be aware and it's just as reprehensible. In short, find another practice if you're looking for a pediatrician that will treat your child as a person with individual needs & not just as a dollar sign. Say no to bully tactics used to illicit compliance. Find someone who won't leave your child without a care provider based on unclear and constantly changing "rules" that only seem to apply to patients who dare to question the front office. You & your children deserve better. read more