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WTF?! re: GW Midwife practice
We are likely TTC after the first of the year, and I'm very interested in the midwife practice at GW. I've read through their website, and they are definitely strict about your being committed to eating healthfully, exercise, and a natural birth. I'm ok with all of that.
So I called to set up a well woman exam to see whether I like the practice. The receptionist said I have to write them an email. Then they will send me a packet of information, and based on my responses, decide whether I am accepted. I was a bit taken aback, but said, "Ok, I've read everything on your site, I'm fully on board. Can you tell me what the criteria are?" She said, "You have to send me the email for the packet." Me: "Ok, I'm a bit confused -- you can't tell me anything about what's in this packet, or what the qualifications are? I read your website and it didn't say anything about this." Her: "That's why I'm telling you now. You have to email us so we have it on file, then we'll decide if you're accepted."
Seriously? Has anyone dealt with them or heard things about them? They get amazing reviews on DC Urban Moms and other places I found on teh Google. But that call definitely put me off.
Maybe I can just write off this one person as sucking or having a bad day -- but it doesn't make me super-excited to work with them.
Also: I'm totally delaying writing an email, in case she's the one who reads them and takes her apparently shittastic day out on me.
Thanks for any thoughts on their practice you may have.
Re: WTF?! re: GW Midwife practice
I am a firm believer in if you get bad customer service before you even give them money, that it will only get worse when you become a customer. If you are really interested, I might give them another chance. I think it is totally strange that you have to be 'accepted' into a midwife practice......
Yikes. With the number of times you need to interact with your doctor's office while pregnant, I'd be a little wary of them if this is an example of their service.
But I do know a couple of people who've delivered with them and had great experiences.
Victoria & mssaint, I totally agree with you. Customer service is a big thing with me, as I've been in some sort of services-oriented business my whole career, from consulting to teaching yoga.
WNW, I know they are completely overwhelmed by the number of people trying to get into this practice. It's the only one in our area (that I know of) that links a fully midwife practice with a hospital -- and that's why it appeals to me. I don't want a home birth, and I don't like the birth center idea (many kick you out three hours after giving birth b/c they want you at home with your family.) And since I'll have "advanced maternal age," as they so thoughtfully call it, it gives me peace of mind to be in a wing of a hospital, should I need it.
But yeah. I was pretty taken aback. I'll send off for the packet and let you know if interactions improve. I'm hoping she was just harried and it was a one-time issue.
you have nothing to lose by emailing them but the whole "accepted" thing puts a bad taste in my mouth; Drs work for patients, you pay them, I don't like their attitude one bit
With that type of demand, I'm not so surprised that they run it more like college admissions than your typical medical office. But it's really surprising that they can't manage to update their website to reflect that. If you're warned ahead of time that they have an application process, since most medical offices don't require that, it wouldn't be so surprising to hear about when you call and it wouldn't lead to a conversation that went downhill like that. You can't be the first person who wasn't expecting an application process and needed more explanation. It would definitely make me wonder if this person is so pleasant to deal with for the dozens of interactions you'd have once you're pregnant.
Are you in DC? My doctor is in Bethesda but has a midwife in the practice. Patients have the option of only being seen by the midwife (she is very nice) and delivers at Sibley. PM me if you want details.
edit: I am 'ama' too and so are friends who go to the same practice :-)
That would really turn me off immediately. They should be selling themselves to you, not the other way around. And if their admin staff is that rude, you're going to have a tough time with setting up appointments and getting test set up etc. if they're not helpful.
There are other practices that have midwives--I think DCtoLow delivered with the one at Shady Grove? You might want to ping her.
There's also the option of a birth center if you're looking for midwives and doing a natural birth. There's one in DC and one in Alexandria, which also does home births.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
My bet is (unfortunately) that if they're not hurting for business, the abrupt approach turns off enough potential clients to make their caseload manageable. Such a shame!
I did deliver DS with Midwifery Care Associates and I'm using them again for this pregnancy. They are an OB-backed midwifery practice. Their offices are in White Flint (actually located on the 3rd floor of the mall). It's not exactly metro accessible since it's about halfway between the Grovesnor and White Flint metro stops and it seems too far for a pregnant lady to walk. They deliver at Shady Grove Hospital - which may be too far for comfort for you. I was very pleased with their care and they accept a broad range of insurance plans.
I agree with PP, I'm really put off by the whole application process, let alone the way the receptionist treated you on the phone.
My ob/gyn practice also has a midwife on staff and they are in VHC. Arlington Women's Center is the practice. Not sure where you live or if this would be convenient, but thought I would mention it.
I agree with pps. That kind of attitude would turn me off from the beginning. You have to be "accepted" to a medical practice?? Wow. Knowing how much you have to see the doctor/midwife during a pregnancy, I wouldn't be comfortable that that attitude doesn't also bleed over to their patients.
Thanks, all. I totally agree with you re: the attitude (hence the "WTF" in the title!)
I'll let you know what their deal is when I read through the packet. I know a couple people who are working with them, so I'll find out whether it's just this particular woman, or whether that attitude is pervasive. Obvs, if it's the latter, I'll go elsewhere.
I do appreciate all the recs, but I'm looking for someone downtown, so that I'm not fighting traffic to get to appointments (or a birth!)
First of all - eee! How exciting!
Second of all - totally agree about the customer service issue. Sucky customer service for something that's going to be so intimate is seriously not cool and won't be tolerable for long. Here's hoping that she sucks, not the whole practice.