My Experience with Dr. Rosen's Practice: A Lesson I Wish I Didn't Have to Learn
As parents, we trust medical professionals with our children's health. We put our faith in them, hoping they will listen, investigate, and do everything they can to help our children thrive. Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience.
My daughter was under Dr. Rosen's care for approximately two years. Like many families, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find specialists and get timely appointments. Once you're established with a provider, you hold on because starting over can take months. I believed my daughter was receiving the care she needed.
Then everything changed.
Our family was dismissed from the practice because we were told that our Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance reimbursement was not sufficient for the office. What shocked me most wasn't just being discharged--it was how it was handled. We were given no referral to another specialist, no assistance with transitioning her care, and no bridge prescription to ensure she wouldn't abruptly lose access to her medication. As a parent, that was terrifying.
After months of searching, I was finally able to establish care for my daughter at Stony Brook. There, she underwent a comprehensive evaluation and was diagnosed with autism.
I couldn't help but ask myself: How does a child spend two years under the care of a neurologist without autism ever being identified?
Instead, she had been diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and a mood disorder. While some of those diagnoses can occur alongside autism, learning that such a significant diagnosis had been missed raised serious questions about the thoroughness of her evaluations.
Beyond the medical concerns, I also struggled with the way I was treated by the office staff. There were multiple occasions when I felt spoken to disrespectfully. No parent should feel belittled or dismissed when advocating for their child. Whether a family has Medicaid, private insurance, or pays out of pocket should never determine the level of courtesy or compassion they receive.
Healthcare is about more than writing prescriptions and scheduling appointments. It's about listening, asking questions, recognizing when something doesn't fit, and treating families with empathy and respect.
My purpose in sharing this experience isn't simply to criticize one practice. It's to encourage parents to trust their instincts. If you feel your concerns aren't being heard, ask questions. Seek another opinion. Advocate for your child--even when it's exhausting.
Receiving my daughter's autism diagnosis brought both answers and a path forward. I only wish we had those answers sooner.
If you're searching for a specialist, I encourage you to look beyond appointment availability. Find a provider who values quality over quantity, communicates openly, and sees your child as more than just another patient on the schedule.
Our children deserve nothing less. read more
