Hospital Recommendation

Hi Jennifer,
I also use Shimer and Shimer. I am due in about eight weeks. I called the doctor's office to estimate the fees---they said it was about $5000 for c-section--doctor fee only (I will more than likely have another c-section so I got the rate for that). I just called the doctor again to verify what we are paying in advance for...she said it was for my routine visits and the physicians part of the delivery. I have a 1000 deductible that they are charging as well---it seems right now they are not charging us all they should be (total of $1200---I have to pay 10% after deductible) so I don't think they are over charging us. The billing office is very helpful: ###-###-####.

With your other question...about the hospital. I haven't delivered at either so this is just opinions I have received by asking as you are. Here is what I have been told:
*MCM--fewer OB's rotate here so the labor and delivery is not as busy as PA.
*MCM--is no longer a county hospital---apparently some old townsfolk have neg opinions of MCM from the old hospital
*Tricia Shimer and Shea Joyner delivered at MCM--pleased with experiences
*The lady in billing--can't remember her name-- shared her opinion and she raved about MCM. She did state some people will only go to PA, but she knew the nurses at MCM better and felt that is where she would go.
*Pretty much everyone else said you can't go wrong with either---depends on your own preference.

Don't know if this helps. Good luck. Let me know if you have other questions.
K.

I have not personally had experiences with either hospital, but I have heard the McKinney one has a poor reputation.

Personally, I would go with Presby anywhere given a choice. I have been to Presby Dallas and gave birth at Presby Plano and they are both excellent!

Hi it's Kim again. I hope you received my post that I sent last night regarding the cost of an OB. I can't seem to find that request antwhere on the site. If you didn't get it e-mail me (____@____.com)and I'll send it again.
Anyway, I wanted to follow up with you on what I found out today from my OB's office. A vaginal delivery is $3100 and a c-section is $4200. If my math is correct- and so often it isn't- 20% is $840--is that right? So I guess the Shimer's aren't too far off the mark.
Let me know if you received my last response. I added some info about hospitals with that might interest you.

I have not delivered at either hospital, but I have had experiences at both, and I would definitely recommend the Pres. Allen .We have not had good experiences with the hospital in McKinney. Also, I think that the Shimer had priviledges at Centennial Medical of 121/Coit and I would pick that one best of all.

Jennifer,
I just e-mailed you about your OB. I delivered at Presby Allen at had some problems. First I choose them because they just went to an all in one room meaning you labor, deliver & recover in the same room so they are nice & large. In addition, they are part of the Presby system so if there was a major problem with the baby (since they do not have a NICU) I could easily be moved to Presby Plano with little paperwork. I also had talked to several people who had delivered there and they liked it.

The problem I had was with the lack of communication among the staff & between the staff & my OB (Jeanne). I deliver very fast (2 hours 20 minutes) and they knew that. My husband had to go out twice to have them come & check me. When they finally came I was 8 cm. In the end, I didn't get pain medication (2nd time) & there was no doctor present (the OB nurse delivered). They never called Jeanne until 30 minutes AFTER I had delivered my baby. She had told them if they did not call her back she would assume I went home to labor (since I was 3 cm when I arrived at the hospital). They never called her back to tell her I was staying, that I was 8 cm or that I had the baby until way after the baby arrived. Plus they wouldn't let me deliver the placenta until Jeanne got there which was 45 minutes after my delivery. The other thing I noticed is they were not very organized at check out. We were ready to go 24-hours later but had to wait another hour because "my nurse" was delivering another baby. The like the idea of having one nurse take care of you & the baby but I think they are still working out the kinks. I will say the lactation consultant there is excellent & the overall care was fine. But I am not very high maintenance. With having a c-section that is scheduled you obviously won't have to worry about any of my issues but thought it would be worth passing along.

Last I knew the doctors at Shimer could do c-sections at Centennial too. That might be too far for you in McKinney though.

Good luck!
C.