Hi moms,
I'm looking for a good pediatrician (preferably holistic but with a good sense of when the baby needs conventional medical care) in the Henderson, NV area. I've asked around and haven't been able to locate one. The pediatrician I've been with for the past 2 years seems to want to prescribe medication for my healthy 21 month-old every time we go in for a visit; which is generally only for well checks and vaccinations. He eats and sleeps well, gains weight as he should, and is generally happy but she likes to run tests and when I've asked her why she said that the test is available and won't cost me anything above my co-pay (translation - more money for her from the insurance company). He caught a cold a few months ago and developed a slight cough with an ear infection. I was gone at the time so my husband took him in and she prescribed 2 anti-biotics (one for the ear infection and one for the cold) a nebulizer with 120 doses of Albuterol and a prescription for Zyrtec (he doesn't even have allergies). Needless to say my husband filled the first 3 prescriptions and the pediatrician called a company to deliver the nebulizer and told him to use it on him several times a day as he coughed. I returned home on the following day and we discontinued the nebulizer use because I really didn't feel that he needed it as his cough was much milder. When we went in for the follow-up she asked if we were still using the nebulizer and I told her that we weren't and he didn't seem to need it. She insisted that he did and told me to use it at least 2x per day. I was concerned about the warning about extended use causing asthma so I didn't use it again and within a few days he was over his cough. When I took him in for his last immunization a month ago, another doctor there told me that they had some extra doses of DTaP and asked if I wanted to give him another booster. He'd just received one in the past 6 months so I declined. I asked why he'd need another one so soon and he said that boosters are always good to have. I've always broken my children's shots up and was surprised that they'd offer up extra doses just because they had them available. In short, I feel like they are trying to pad their bill to the insurance company by filling my kids with unnecessary medication.
I've been with this office for 4 years now but about 2 years ago the doctor whom we really loved left and the practice was sold to the current group. I think its time for a change. Any referrals are greatly appreciated!
Hey, I'm the mom of 5 great kids ranging in age 6 weeks to 16 years and they all go to a great pediatricians office close to Henderson. Its a husband and wife team and the are both very compassionate about the care they provide to the kids. Check them out...Oshiro Pediatrics off Flamingo and Eastern ###-###-####.
I like dr hodapp too.
I second the recommendation for Dr. Carrie and Dr. McGhee at Siena Pediatrics.
They are both fantastic, compassionate people. My son is 2 years old and we've been seeing them both from the start.
Even after hours they have been fantastic about calling back immediately once paged.
It does sound like your doc is trying to pad their insurance claims - that is horrible. I experienced that once with a perinatologist. Had I done what he suggested, my son probably wouldn't be here today. Go with your gut and find a new doc!
Best of luck to you!
We LOVE Dr. Levin at Henderson Pediatrics!!! We have been going there since my daughter was born over 4 yrs ago. (Now I have both my kiddos going there) There is almost no wait at the office. They schedule their appointments far apart so you have plenty of time to ask questions. There is a well side and a sick side divided by a wall. You go into a different door even so that the healthy kids and the sick kids are not mingling. If your child gets sick, you call and make an appointment so yet again, you don't have to wait all day when your little one is sick. The office is open 7 days a week (shorter hours on the weekend) but it is nice that you don't have to go to a quick care or if your schedule is super busy, you can actually do a well check on the weekend!
When my son was born, his eyes were tearing and he had lots of gunk in them. Dr. Levin wrote me a prescription and told me to wait a few days before filling it to see if it cleared up. He told me if his eyes got worse or if he seemed uncomfortable, I could fill it. These were just drops for his eyes, nothing too serious. I liked that he didn't force it on me. We ended up not using it and he inquired about it for records, but there was no harrassing.
When my son was around 6 months old, he had a nasty cold and ear infection. Dr. Levin said I hate to give a 6 month old antibiotics. Lets wait and see if it clears up on its own. He told me if it got worse, didn't go away or the baby was super uncomfortable to call him and he would send the prescription over to the pharmacy so we wouldn't have to come in again. Well, it cleared up on its own, no meds. I love that he doesn't push the meds on us!!!
We switched insurance companies and his office actually doesn't take ours any more. We didn't want to go anywhere else so we pay for each doctor visit out of pocket and they cut their office visit in half so we can afford to go there.
Sorry for making this so long!
Dr. Michael Levin
220 E Horizon Dr # A
Henderson, NV 89015
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I use St. Rose Pediatrics for my two children. They have been going there since they were born. My daughter is 12 and my son is 9
I really love Dr. Carrie Wijesinghe at Siena Pediatrics. The Dr. she works with (Dr. McGee)
is great also. They have always listened about my concerns with vaccinations and have worked with us breaking them up. My kids love them!
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Good Luck,
Vicki
We see Dr Hodapp and like him very much. He isn't pushy and rarely prescribes drugs even for a cold in our case. We loved our pediatrician that left the area also (sounds like we might have been at the same place!) and when he left we felt the office just wasn't the same. It took some getting used to but I now really like Dr Hodapp and his office! Hope that helps!
