My husband, son and I relocated to the Lansdale, PA area this time last year while I was in my third trimester with my now nine month old daughter. I basically went with the most competent OBGYN practice that would accept me so late in my pregnancy. And they are definitely very competent. However, they seem to have more patients than they can comfortably handle. But even more of a disappointment is their lack of personality. They are all business, to say the least. Now, I'm not looking for a best friend. But especially with my OBGYN I would like to feel like I'm talking to someone more personal than a computer or a recording. In Chicago, where I'm from, I had an amazing OBGYN. She was so personal that she would sit with me for half an hour answering all my questions. Of course, I had to anticipate that she would be running late because she was this patient with everyone. I don't expect every doctor to do that, but I do need someone that I can connect with on some sort of emotional level. Any suggestions? My other request is for a pediatrician. The one that we have found out here is okay and again, definitely competent. But I feel like she's been doing this for a little too long. She strikes me as a little burnt out. So sometimes she's almost short with me and I never feel like she has much time for me. Again, in Chicago we had the most amazing pediatrician who every first time mom should have. She always acted as if all my ridiculous questions and neuroses were perfectly normal. She had a very supportive way about her and I always left her office feeling like "okay, this isn't so hard, I get it," because she was so clear and specific too. While still making me feel like there were many different, valid choices for most child rearing questions. With this doctor there is usually one way or the highway. I know that I'm not going to find my exact doctors from Chicago, but there has got to be better than this. And I don't want to just switch without some recommendations or I could end up with even worse than I already picked! Thanks so much for any input or suggestions.
I live in Harleysville and go to Dr. Jennifer Landes at Grand View Medical Practices OB/Gyn in Quakertown. They are wonderful! It is a small office and they really give you personalized care. I don't just feel like a number there. I take my son to Just 4 Kids Pediatrics in Harleysville. It is 2 doctors and it always easy to get an appt, usually the same day. My 18 month old son loves it there! Good luck!
I also live in Telford; I have gone to Stoneridge for several years and I am happy with them. Group practice and not all are going to be warm and fuzzy, but Dr. Pagan in particular is, and so is AnneMarie. There are several new members to the practice that I haven't met yet.
My daughter's pediatrician is KidsFirst Indian Valley with a Souderton mailing address. (It is actually in Hilltown Township). That is a group practice and almost all of them have been good to us.
These are associated with Grand View and my experiences there have been very good, even under unfortunate circumstances.
Welcome to Pennsylvania!
I apologize that this isn't an answer, but I had the same issue with the OB's around here. I actually drove out to a birthing center in Lancaster for the birth of my son and will do it for our the rest of our children.
I do wish you the best of luck in finding a good OB and will probably keep track of your responses to find a closer one myself (2 hour car ride in labor sucks!!! but only in PA)
I like the OBGYN nurse practitioners with the Abington health group. I often find them MUCH more personable than the doctors and just as knowledgeable. The office in Willow Grove is not too far from Lansdale and the patient load is not ridiculous. I looked far and wide for my pediatritian and chose the Horsham Pediatrics group. Dr. O'Brien and Dr. Kolmar are VERY nice and patient when I become a "nervous mother" from time to time. That might be a bit far for you, but I am extrememly happy with them! Good luck!!
Hi D.,
I also have to agree that a Midwife is the way to go for personal care. I use Doylestown Midwifery and they are fantastic. They are affiliated with Doylestown Hospital which is also awesome. Best of luck with your search.
Regards,
D.
Well, I don't know the OB/GYN you are seeing now, but I saw the other responses and they seem to make recommendations away from Lansdale. I live in Limerick and I still drive out to Lansdale to see Dr. Robyn Faye (Mercy Women's Health). I just gave birth to my daughter 9 weeks ago, and I had a great experience with all of the doctors in the practice. The nurses are very helpful and understanding. Also, my experience at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown was equally wonderful. I would recommend these OB's to anyone.
Dear D.,
I read some of the other responses. When I first moved to this area 9 years ago, I went to an OB/GYN in Phoenixville. I liked the 2 doctors that I saw, but it was a large office, and the business and impersonality of the office staff drove me to panic attacks, literally. I started doing my yearlies through a nurse practioner at my family practice dr.'s in Harleysville. When I was pregnant 3 years ago my family dr. gave me the name of Dr. Vizer at Grand View Hospital (it may be Pennridge OB/GYN.) He is in solo practice for OB, but also works with another physician for GYN. I saw the same dr. and nurse every visit, and when I delivered on Thanksgiving evening, he was on call. When we finally decided to do a C-section, he called "my" nurse to come in and assist! Knowing my dr.s and nurses so well really worked for me in my case. We still take my son to our family dr. Especially when he was an infant, but even still now, we feel like they really roll out the red carpet for us, and that we get really good care. Good luck!
Don't know how far you want to travel, but I love both my pediatrician and my OB/GYN. For pediatrician, I got to Upper Providence Pediatrics in Collegeville. They are affiliated with the Main Line Health System. Specifically, my daughter sees Dr. Rao, who is so gentle, calm and has a great approach to kids. She also takes time to answer all my questions, ridiculous or not! She is very thorough. My daughter has also seen the other two lady doctors in the office, but Dr. Rao is my favorite. For OB/GYN, last year I started going to Main Line OB/GYN. They have offices at Collegeville and Paoli. I see Dr. Saberin-Williams. I liked her very much. Years ago I had an awesome OB/GYN at Penn in the city but she left due to rising malpractice costs. It took me till last year to find one I liked as much. Good luck whatever you decide!
I live in Telford, so I use Grand View Hospital (although I lived my whole life in Lansdale, I still always went to GVH because I love it there). I went to Pennridge Pediatrics in Sellersville, and my 17 month old son goes there as well. He is lucky (in my opinion) to get to have some of the same doctors I had when I was little. I trust their opinions, and ask others in the practice for their opinions as well, so I can sometimes get a bit of extra advice. It is a practice of appr. 7 doctors, so you don't always know who you are going to get (which some don't like - I personally do). You can request a certain doctor for a well check, though. Also, they do a morning call-in hour from 8-9 so you can call and get advice on concerns/problems. They have fantastic hours, and even have come in on a Sunday when we had an emergency ear infection (on his birthday!), rather than making us rush to the emergency room. Info:
Address:
Pennridge Pediatric Associates Inc
711 Lawn Ave Ste 2
Sellersville, PA 18960-1575
Phone:
###-###-####
They also have one in Harleysville and one other location, I believe....but Sellersville is the main branch, so I would recommend starting there.
Regarding OBGYNs, I LOVE mine as well. They are also associated with GVH, so I again don't know if that is a problem. There are 4 doctors and 1 nurse practitioner. I loved 3 of the doctors, but didn't like the 1 very much. I just made sure she wasn't on when I scheduled my induction! I actually had all 3 others while in labor and then delivery, which was nice. They all had a part and were wonderful! Here is their information:
http://www.gvh.org/pages/gvmp/obgyn.asp
On a side note, Stoneridge OBGYN also comes highly recommended my many friends (also GVH affiliated):
http://www.stoneridgeobgyn.com/
I hope this all helps you in some way, and I am sorry you had such a rough start here in PA when it comes to doctors! Good luck!
I can't suggest enough - for you to go to a midwife rather than an ob/gyn. If you want that appeal where you feel you are a patient rather than a customer who is placing a fast food order - go to a midwife. Each appt they will take 30 minutes to talk to you about all your questions - as silly as you feel they may be. My first appt with my ob/gyn they insisted that i sign the paper for the epidural - when i mentioned i wanted a drug free. She then laughed at me. It was then that i decided a midwife was more for me. They would understand my concerns and make me feel comfortable about my decisions. Not all midwifes are homebirths...you can have a hospital birth with a midwife.
Check out http://www.pamidwives.org/midwives.htm - or http://pennsylvaniamidwives.net/
if you have any questions about midwifes or homebirths ask away.
J.
