Since the Lakeview administration took steps to remove my Facebook post about my son's experience,…read moreI felt it necessary to share my story here to warn others. I've had great experiences with several doctors at Lakeview and loved my OB, but the clinic's administration and one of the pediatricians left a lasting negative impression.
If you're looking for a pediatrician, I urge you to read this before making your decision. The pediatrician I had issues with is well-known and highly recommended, but many parents--including myself--have had poor experiences. My son, born in late August, initially saw Dr. Wentling. I brought up several concerns and he attributed my concerns to anxiety. However, it was my instinct as a mother telling me something was wrong.
From August to December, I raised my concerns consistently, including the rash, oxygen issues, cough, and signs of reflux. I was told nothing could be done for reflux, the rash was just baby acne, and the Owlet was unreliable. I was also told babies don't get asthma and inhalers can't be prescribed for infants.
By 11/21, we were still struggling with the same issues. When I brought up the possibility of RSV, I was told my son couldn't get it because he'd received the RSV antibody shot--this was incorrect. I was also advised to elevate his crib mattress, an unsafe sleep practice. On 12/5, my son's breathing worsened, his Owlet alerted low oxygen levels, and he had coughing fits, wheezing, and gasping for air. I showed Dr. Wentling a video of my son gasping for air, but he dismissed it as "normal" and suggested it was another viral URI. Despite asking for a chest X-ray, it wasn't done because he didn't think it was pneumonia. Not even 24 hours later, my son was rushed to the ER and diagnosed with pneumonia. I scheduled an appointment with a pulmonologist at Children's for a second opinion.
On 12/31, we saw another doctor for the rash on my son's neck. She immediately noticed his low oxygen, wheezing, the rash, and the persistent cough. She referred us to a dermatologist, started a nebulizer in the office, prescribed a cream for severe infantile eczema, and confirmed my son had asthma.
Finally, my son was seen by a pulmonologist at Children's, where a new X-ray was done. The pulmonologist immediately said the video of my son gasping for air was far from normal and we left w/ an asthma diagnosis (daily inhaler, rescue inhaler, and asthma action plan) and reflux diagnosis (& reflux med) and a derm confirmed he has severe eczema and put him on a steroid cream, all of which I had been raising concerns about for months and was dismissed.
Afterward, I posted in a local Facebook group, not naming the pediatrician, and received an overwhelming number of responses from parents with similar experiences. Dr. Wentling called me, showing no remorse and simply asking what he could do to fix the situation. Later, the clinic's administration contacted me, more concerned about the post being public than what had happened to my son. Weeks later, my post was removed at the clinic's request because others had named Dr. Wentling.
This situation has shown me that the clinic prioritizes its reputation over patient care. For months, I pleaded with this doctor because I knew something wasn't right, and to be continuously dismissed is unacceptable. Thankfully, we eventually got to the root of the issue, but this could have ended much worse had I not trusted my instincts. If you're looking for a pediatrician, thoroughly research who you trust with your children's care. Always trust your instincts and seek a second opinion if needed.
Lastly, we had asked Dr. Wentling to document certain concerns and his refusal of tests, but those concerns were never recorded in my son's chart. The summaries are vague compared to other DR records, and our concerns aren't reflected anywhere.
To the clinic: Do better. When a mother repeatedly expresses that something isn't right, order the tests and take those concerns seriously instead of trying to erase evidence, silence reviews, & cover up a negligent doctor.
