Parents must Advocate for Adequate Health Care

If it wasn't for some fantastic specialists I would have completely lost faith in our ever improving Heath Care System.  I no longer feel taking my daughter to her pediatrician is helpful.  Even her yearly checkup is a bit useless.  They check her vitals, ears, throat, heart but that is about it.  They do ask if I have concerns and when I bring them up they get brushed off as no big deal.  My daughter's pediatrician never suggested she had Hypotonia it was one of her TEACHERS.....

I have to say I thought my daughter's 5 year checkup would be different.  After all she has now been properly diagnosed with Hypotonia. We have had countless tests, and seen several specialists.  Well, I was wrong.  Her pediatrician didn't take the time to look at her chart before her visit and when talking about the fact she had Hypotonia she just said "at least it is not a Muscular Dystrophy".  That is the best you can come up with!  I didn't come there for a pity party but thought I might actually get some MEDICAL advice as to the best way to help my daughter!

I like her pediatrician but I don't like the level of care she is receiving.  So I have been looking for a new pediatrician.  Unfortunately it seems I am not alone.  Every time I meet someone new with kids I ask "so who is your pediatrician?"  "Do you like them?".  I have yet to get a resounding "YES".  Typically I get a yes with hesitation.  When I explain why I am looking for a new pediatrician they usually confer with similar experiences.

I no longer totally blame the pediatricians.  Have you looked at your explanation of benefits from your insurance?  They get paid nothing for these visits.  They have no choice but to limit the time spent with your child.  In 5 years my daughter has had 5 pediatricians.  Out of the 5 I have been happy with 1.  I was so happy with the 1 I was willing to drive 45 mins to her office.  But things changed and she stopped seeing as many patients.

So what is the solution?  Settle for inadequate care?  I don't know.  Maybe?  I do know that we as parents have to be extreme advocates for our children.  No longer can we put our faith and trust in the medical profession.  The reality is no one knows your child better than you.  Even the best pediatrician in the world will never see every aspect of your child.  You can only hope to find one that will listen when you tell them.

I will continue to look for a new pediatrician because mine doesn't listen.  I will also continue to do research on the Internet, talk to other parents and most importantly trust my gut.  I, like other parent's know my child and I know when something is wrong.  I just don't always know what it is so I will keep searching the Internet!