The surgery scheduler at my OB's office finally called back to schedule my c-section while I was at lunch on Monday. I phoned back yesterday at least a half dozen times and could not get through to my OB's office at all. The line was busy from opening to closing. The after hours answering service did not take messages about anything except for medical emergencies. The woman who answered the call at the after hours service could not offer me anything else except a cheery "Call back during regular business hours."
What a frustrating response when you've been answered by a busy signal all day long and the only time the phone gets answered is after the office is closed and after anyone who can even pretend to help has gone home.
In frustration I looked for another OB online, but found nothing. Instead, I found this article: Labor Pains: Rising malpractice rates, hospital closings make life more difficult for Philly's expecting mothers.
When I'd asked my California OB for a referral to an OB in Pennsylvania she asked around and was told that no one wanted to be in PA due to the very very high malpractice rates. You would think that this might improve the standard of care. But apparently not. Apparently it is hard to find a doctor, let alone one who has time for you and can return your calls within a reasonable period of time.
Maybe the swiss army knife scenario is not as absurd as it once seemed.
Oh Dear...can you just show up at their office and stand there until they help you? Sounds silly, but it's better than a swiss army knife, I guess. :)
Posted by: Aurelia | June 06, 2007 at 02:26 PM
My god, what a nightmare. That's ridiculous. How stressful. All you want to do is have your baby. Is that so much to ask?
Posted by: Eva | June 06, 2007 at 03:57 PM
That's awful. Can't you find an OB in NJ? (Yes, I know, it's a little late for that.) Good luck.
Posted by: maggie | June 07, 2007 at 10:14 AM