I am extremely disappointed and disheartened by my experience with CHOP. I called because my daughter needed to be seen urgently and I was denied the appointment because she has to be "regular" patient, as they do not take one time only sick visits. As it happens, she was visiting her aunt, who lives a few hours away, and became sick -- my sister called me that evening stating she changed my 15 month old and noticed a scant amount of pink blood on the baby wipe, seeming to be coming from her vagina (it should also be noted that, other than what my sister noticed on wipe, my daughter was happy and acting completely normal). Obviously this alarmed me and, ultimately, I decided to wait until the morning and have my sister take her to her pediatrician to be seen -- I didn't want to take her to an ER/Urgent care because I wanted a specialist that examines that area regularly to treat my daughter, vs someone that doesn't treat children as their primary population and may/may not recognize an abnormality.
The following morning, as soon as the office opened, I called and explained the situation, and basically begged the practice to take my daughter as a new patient so she could be examined and treated. The person on the phone informed me that the practice does not take new patients unless they are going to be regular patients, and would not schedule her an appointment. I requested to speak to a manager and the woman on the phone told me that the manager was out of town and that "I'm the best you're going to get". Again I begged and explained my situation, and the woman again apologized and stated that the practice only takes patients that will be there as regular patients, and would not make me an appointment.
Ultimately I found a pediatric walk in clinic for my sister to take my baby to, but this practice should be ASHAMED of themselves. I understand that continuity of care is important, and might have made the visit more challenging, but to turn away a sick child because they cannot continue to make money from seeing them regularly is disgusting and unbelievably upsetting. My sister has already told me that she plans on changing her pediatrician as a result of their office policy, and I hope others reading this choose to go elsewhere. In my opinion, a physician's priority should be helping sick children, not ensuring a regular paycheck. Please, I beg you, do not support this office by choosing to take your child to this practice. read more
