Due to a change in insurance, we had to find a new pediatrician. I picked Herculean Babies because it was in network and close to use. We will not be going back. My son's appointment was at 2:00. We got there early to fill out paperwork, but they were closed for lunch until 2:00. When they opened the door and we went in, no one greeted us or even acknowledged that we were there. There was a clipboard at the front counter where patients write their name and time they arrived...why is this necessary if we have an appointment?
After finally filling out paperwork, they asked for my copay. I said there's no copay for a wellness visit. They said our appointment was a sick visit. After I kept explaining that my son had just turned 4 and the entire reason we were there was for a physical, which is what I said on the phone, they started speaking in Spanish (no idea what they were saying) and finally said they had a cancellation. They made sure to point out that the ONLY reason they could see us was because of the cancellation because our appointment was a sick visit. I refrained from telling them it wasn't MY fault that they wrote down the wrong kind of appointment. Why would I make a sick appointment a month in advance??
The nurse that took my son's weight and height was very nice and helped him feel a little more at ease. Once she was done checking his eye sight and hearing she directed us to the exam room, where we waited for at least 20 minutes. She didn't go in with us or explain that the doctor would be right there, she just left.
When the doctor finally arrived, he didn't introduce himself to me or my son. He just went straight in to his height and weight, and said, "He's not too fat or too skinny." Why does he use the word "fat" to describe kids?? Then he spent the rest of the time talking to me like I was an idiot. He was very condescending and clearly felt like because he was a doctor and I was just a stay-at-home-mom that he was much more intelligent than me. He explained things like what our tastebuds are for, what gray matter in the brain is, how I need to teach my son how to correctly cross the street, and how I need to have him trace words like "bear" three times each, 20 minutes a day. What??! I'm a teacher and that is not what preschool kids should be doing.
The nurse that gave my son his three shots squeezed his arms so hard he still had red marks several minutes later. And when she came back with stickers she handed them to him and just left. No one said anything to us as we left either.
Overall, the staff (besides the first nurse we had) was rude and unwelcoming, and the doctor was condescending and made me uncomfortable. I have an appointment for my 2-year-old there which I will be cancelling today. read more