Can anyone recommend a good pediatrician in St. Paul? I've heard of great practices in the suburbs and in Minneapolis, but I would like to stay relatively close to home so I don't have to drive far with a sick child. We have been going to Aspen Medical in Bandanna Square since my 15-month old was born, but we're finding we just don't have a very good relationship with our doc.
We would like someone warm with a decent bedside manner. Also, I'm a little bit of a worrier (OK, big worrier) and someone semi compassionate and sympathetic would be helpful.
**Thanks for all the suggestions - I will check Central Pediatrics out for sure. As for Aspen, ugh, I feel really horrible breaking up with our current doctor, but I'm tired of feeling disgruntled after every appointment. Not only does the doctor there disappoint me but everything moves so slowly. I recently spent fifteen minutes standing in line at the reception desk to check in for a well baby visit, an appointment I was at least five minutes early for. We then waited in the waiting room for a ridiculous length of time and when I enquired at the desk about the delay I was told since I hadn't been on time for my appointment they had pushed my appointment back. Not cool. It's pretty standard to have to call for test results yourself even if the doctor assures you they will be calling you. I'm also convinced my doc doesn't remember me or my son at all each visit and while I guess that's understandable given the number of patients they see I still think, really? After 15 months?
Still getting to know a new doctor isn't my idea of a good time. It's almost like dating...
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Just have to throw in another YAY for Pediatric and Young Adult. We see Dr Plotnik (she is THE BEST!), but have seen SEVERAL docs there, and loved them all! Plus they have a lot of locations...
N.,
My kids go to Central Peds. their St Paul office is at Snelling and Larpenteur (near the fairgrounds). They also have an office in Woodbury. There are about a dozen pediatricians to choose from. I really like Dr. Jaeger and Dr Khoury.
In addition Central Peds has walk in hours all day long and pediatric urgent care on the evenings and weekends. YOu can literally walk in with your sick or injured child all day and see a doctor within a half hour.
Visit their website at www.centralpeds.com
phone # ###-###-####
Good luck,
C.
We love Central Pediatrics! They have priority peds as well so you can get in and out quickly in the evenings and weekends when you have urgent situations. The doctors are wonderful!
We've taken both of our kids (4 & 2) to the St. Paul Children's Pediatrics Clinic to see Dr. Gigi (Pamela) Chawla since birth. She is wonderful and I really like the association with the hospital. The clinic is located in the Garden View Medical building at 347 N. Smith Ave. and I think the number is ###-###-####.
I LOVE Pediatric & Young Adult Medicine in St. Paul. We have Dr Thomas Siefferman but have seen 3 of the others and they are all good. Love the fact that I get to speak to my dr directly when I call OR if I have to leave him a voice mail, he calls me back directly.
I recommend Pediatric and Young Adult Medicine. They have several locations on the east side including St. Paul (right behind Children's Hospital), Eagan, Maplewood (right next to St. John's hospital), Lake Elmo, Hudson. Our primary ped we see is Dr. Delahunty. She's extremely warm, sincere and takes all the time we need while we are there for an appointment or while on the phone with her. Another ped we see often is Dr. Balfanz. My DSD who is 8 yo has been going to him primarily since she was a newborn. We have really liked every physician in the clinic!
Hate Aspen. OK - Maybe "hate" is too strong but the level of care they provide is sub-par.
Over the past couple years, EVERY time this question comes up, I recommend Dr Jason Maxwell at HealthPartners (St Paul clinic on Wabasha and Plato). He takes every sympton, question, and worried parent seriously. He provides a diagnosis and explains it (sometimes with drawings!:D). The kids like him too.
Okay - this is going to seem odd, since I am now also recommending Central Peds (Snelling and Larp). We too have Dr Sackett and LOVE her. I was really nervous about changing peds since we had the same one at ASPEN clinic since our kids were born. But like you the relationship tanked. Anyway - I made an inteview appointment with Dr Sackett, we met for almost an hour - WOW a Dr that will talk with you for that long is amazing! She and the Central Ped's staff is awesome and super caring and never makes you feel like you are one of those "crazy moms"!
I would definitely check them out!!
After reading your post and the other responses, now I'm really curious which doctor(s) you and the other mom who responded had at Aspen. We have been seeing Dr. Arnold London (Aspen Bandana clinic) since the day our girls were born, and have had nothing but good experiences with him. I can't recommend him highly enough. :) If you haven't seen him, and would like to give Aspen Bandana another shot before switching practices, I suggest giving him a try.
I second the recommendation for Pediatric & Young Adult Medicine. We switched there after similar experiences to yours (followed by one really horrendous one!) at a different clinic. My sons have seen several different docs there & we have liked them all. We've never had a long wait for an appointment even when we were the ones who were late! One thing I LOVE is being able to connect directly to our doctor on the phone during business hours - no leaving messages, triage nurse, etc. After hours I have had either a nurse or a doctor call me back promptly. Their St. Paul office is right next to Children's, with its own FREE parking lot. Finally, it's the clinic I went to as a kid.... it was kind of surreal to take my baby to see Dr. Balfanz knowing that he had treated me as a child!
I third (or fourth?) Central Pediatrics. Dr. Goodale is our primary, but we've also seen Dr. Sackett and Dr. Richert several times on sick visits - and we like them all. I feel like there's a nice range of docs there with a range of personalities. I have an anxiety disorder and have really enjoyed working with Dr. Goodale - she's more laid-back than I am, but in a smart, thoughtful, and reassuring way - I've never been made to feel overly-cautious by anyone there. They've been in business for many, many years (When I was a kid - 70s and 80s - I was a patient of Dr. Keenan, one of the founding members who died just recently.) Between their regular clinic and the after-hours clinic (same location, same docs) I've never had any trouble getting a sick child seen same-day. And if you've already been going to Bandana Square, it's just another three minutes north on Snelling. Good luck!
Have heard nothing but horror stories about ASPEN please do leave there asap. I did have a bad experience at Central Peds but that was 10 years ago. I HIGHLY recommend Gigi Chawla. Your kids will love her, you will love her and she will stop at nothing to get you an answer for anything. She is very knowledgeable and doesn't screw around with anything. My daughter had reflux of the kidneys and went through lots of procedures and dr visits with her and she always listens and takes parents concerns seriously. My daughter is 11 and my son is 2 and he just saw her the other day and can't stop talking about "Dr Chaw LA" so cute. My son had a heart murmur and head issues she sent him on to specialist without hesitation and he had turned out to be a healthy little guy!!
The number is ###-###-####
