I want to emphasize that I cannot speak to the medical side of this practice as much as feeling I got as a visiting patient. I have left the area and will give birth in another state. I felt compelled to review because I felt my experience was negative.
I first met with Irene Baker. It wasn't a negative experience, but the overall mood and friendliness of staff did not rise to the level of the majority of doctors I have ever visited--I have been hospitalized for 3 weeks, visited specialists of all kinds and often the people at the front desk and the medical assistants can make a HUGE difference to an apprehensive patient like myself.
Next, I met with my assigned OBGYN Nancy Herta. My husband accompanied me to two visits with her. She knew this was my first pregnancy and when I asked a question, she had a look of disbelief and made me feel a bit stupid for asking it. For instance, I would mention that I had headaches that I usually don't suffer from and she just said, "did you take something for it". I would think a doctor would ask if you had dizziness or something like that or what are you taking for it. She doesn't know that I know what to take. I believe in taking responsibility for educating yourself, but there is alot of information out there and it seems that when you mention symptoms to a doctor they should be more thorough, like my other doctors have been because they could notice something that a non-medical expert would not. She would say things like, "Baby's heart rate is 140" and that is it--not "that is good" or "looks like everything is great". I just felt that even as I expressed my fears she was oblivious and she only spoke when I asked a question and then answered it with as much brevity as possible.
Next time I saw her, she was a little friendlier, but mostly sat at the desk and took notes. Not informative and didn't ask any questions.
Next time I met Baker again and she actually laughed when I asked her certain things like about sleeping mostly on your left side or varicose veins. I felt as if these people forgot that some people are pregnant for the FIRST time and they should realize that nearly EVERY website on pregnancy tells women about sleeping on the left side and it isn't a crazy question. Then, I told her about my new symptoms of frequent heart palpitations and she was like, "that is normal". The sources I read said that doctors should NEVER dismiss that symptom because it is normal, but that other questions should always be asked about when, how and what other symptoms accompany these heart palpitations.
Then I met with Amber McClean and I FINALLY felt that I was being connected with and listened to and if I would have stayed I would have requested to switch to her or would have found another practice. She asked questions, answered all mine and was VERY nice.
I also wanted a screening done for Down's and heart problems at 13 weeks. I made an error and couldn't get in to them and when I had them ask Herta if arrangements could be made somewhere else, they said they didn't know of any place else. I was out of luck. I called around to Sparrow OBGYN and they gave me a number and this eventually led me to the Michigan State University radiology that did it for me. I was appalled that my OBGYN's competitor was more helpful of me as non-patient, than they were of their own.
Like I said, I am sure they can all deliver babies, but if you want a friendlier overall staff that doesn't just treat you as another pregnant lady--look around. I am not picky when it comes to doctors, but I still feel they work for us and as long as I CAN go somewhere else I will. After all pregnancy is an important medical event and you need to feel comfortable. read more