After 1 year with Dr.Galina as the doctor for my first baby I am happy with her, as a doctor and as a person. She is very straightforward, knowledgeable, and she strives to do all she can for her patients. However there are a few reasons why I choose to give three stars:
The main reason is that every single time that I have been there (with appointment) I have always waited no less than one hour to be seen, I mean one hour just to enter the inside rooms and get things started (weight/height) with the nurses, then I usually wait more to see the Doctor. When it comes to children, particularly babies, this time weighs heavily, and you mommies know. In the beginning I hoped it just was just one unlucky day but, unfortunately, it's always this way for me. I am a very patient person and NEVER complained (though I heard many other patients complaining). The worst experience I had, however, was this Wednesday. I had an appointment at 10:30 and was finally called in at 11:45. My 1 year old had to do blood work (which, for those of you who have done it is not pleasant for the baby. In fact, it can be pretty traumatic) and 3 vaccines. At around noon the nurses took her blood so I imagined we'd do the vaccines straight away since she was already in a horrible sad mood. I was instead asked to wait in a room for what turned out to be another half an hour (a NEVERENDING half hour) with my baby screaming and in pain/trauma from the blood work. When I was finally told to go to the Doctors room she greeted me with "Hello complaining mommy" with a smile. When I answered "ME?" (because, like I said, I had never complained) she explained that she greeted me that way only because everyone that entered her office was complaining. Now, I realize she was trying to lighten the mood but considering the situation (which I did not find funny at all) I feel that it may have been more appropriate for her say either nothing or to apologize for the wait, even just a little bit. At that point we did the vaccines (more tears and screaming) and then she asked me if I had questions or concerns, etc, we talked for a little bit but honestly at that point I just wanted to take my baby home and comfort her so I didn't even address the many topics I would have liked to to go over with her because I had been there for longer than 2 hours, standing, I was exhausted and my baby was screaming like I'd never heard her scream.
Earlier when I had politely asked one of the nurses why the long delay she told me that many unexpected patients had come in earlier. So, basically, she was telling me that people that had appointments AFTER me came in early so they were seen BEFORE me. This seemed very unfair to me and although the patients shouldn't come in so prematurely it is the doctor who has to manage the appointments. By trying to make some patients happy there are others getting penalized (like myself). It's simply not well organized.
To sum it all up I like Dr.Galina and would still recommend her but whenever I make an appointment I cannot ask myself if I will be there for 30 minutes or 2+ hours because it makes a world of a difference to me. Aside from being a mother I also work from home and I do not have the luxury of having relatives here or a nanny that can take my baby to these appointments in my place. Just something to think about. I hope things change or I may have to switch doctor based solely on this. read more