I brought my teen daughter in for a consultation regarding her antidepressant. She was doing well but had been previously struggling with some issues. Her medication was changed by her primary care, at my request. I felt that it was time to continue surveillance under a specialist in psychiatric care. We had seen Barbara Browder once before, a year previously. I like to see APRNs when possible, being one myself. Our first experience went well, although by the time we were able to get in (3 months from when I called, my daughter was started on medication and was improving), we really just wanted to establish care.
Time went by, things changed, and ultimately, it was time to see the psych NP. We went in with nothing more than surveillance in mind, not wanting any changes. After I updated Barbara on all that had happened, including who had been managing her medication, she became very cold...much colder than she appeared at first. She made it very clear that she felt only a psych provider should manage psych medications. I disagree....especially when it takes 3 months for someone in need to get in for an appointment. We were lucky this time, as she had an opening only 3 weeks away - although that was rescheduled twice. I opted not to argue, as I just wanted to be sure my daughter was getting care so I bit my tongue. At the end of the visit, she says it looks like everything is fine. I asked when she would like to see my daughter back and she informed me that she wasn't comfortable with that and we should find a new practice! I was dumbfounded, and then very angry. She offered to "debate" with me about non-pysch providers and scope of practice. I told her I didn't think there was a point, grabbed my kid, and left. I was so outraged I was shaking. I felt like she cared nothing about my kid. I suspect it was a p*ssing contest about scope of practice and my kid wasn't important. I found a much better place, where my daughter does her therapy, and we had a wonderful experience with the doctor.
Here's a little funny tidbit - she must have forgotten to fire us officially - because we never received the letter required listing follow up resources when dismissing a patient from your practice. AND, I got a call from the office to schedule my daughters follow up visit! I politely informed the woman who called that we were not ever returning, and that we were told my daughter was fired. The woman said she would share this with admin at the Chandler office, apologized to me as she mentioned that this has happened several times with this provider. read more