Need Recomendations for Johnson County Pediatrician

I go to Johnson County Peadiatrics and see Dr. Rawson. She is awesome and has a wonderful bedside manner!! And everytime I call and talk to one of her nurses that are very nice and helpful. I would highly recommend going there. We have seen some of the other doctors there are they are all really good. My sister takes her kids to Dr. Bush in that office and really likes him. The number is ###-###-####.

Hi E., I would highly recommend Pediatric Care Specialist in Overland Park. They are located right off 125th & Metcalf. Their number is ###-###-####. My daughter sees Dr. Claire White and she is wonderful! She is an aggressive doctor when it comes to the health of your child. She would have diagnosed his milk allergy the first time she saw him. If you want a male doctor I'm not sure who to refer you to though. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi E.,

I would highly recommend Dr. Heaphy. He is located at 435 and Quivera. I have been with this office for seven years and I have never had any problems! All of the pediatric group is willing to help any way they can. There's been a few times they were willing to stay late just so we did not have to go the ER or Childrern:s Mercy. I have and always will recommend Dr. Heaphy to my closest friends. Here is the office information:

Professional Pediatrics Association (PPA)
10600 Qivera Road
Overland Park, Ks. 66210
###-###-####

I hope this helps!!!!

I take both of my daughters to see Dr. Lillian Baraban at Pediatric Professional Association (PPA) ###-###-####. I have taken both of my girls there since they were born and have been thoroughly impressed with her follow-up (calls us at home) and her initiative to try and find alternatives to giving them a prescription. I have also taken them to see other docs in the practice and have only found 1 that I'm not too impressed with. They even have a dr that just came over from Children's Mercy who is now a part of their practice. Good luck!

College Park Family Care Center. They are wonderful and have a great team of doctors with several offices around the area. There is one on 112th off of College Blvd. I don't know about getting charged for each individual shot as we didn't go there when our kids were little and getting so many shots but I have never heard of getting charged for each shot like that before. If you have questions just call their office and ask about their billing and what insurances they take. They are very friendly and do great follow-up. They also have acute care hours on some evenings and Saturday mornings. If they take your insurance I highly recommend them. I know a lot of people that go there and drive over 15 miles and we go there too but haven't been there long enough to pick out a regular doctor yet but have seen 3 of their doctors and so far have been very pleased. Dr. Jordan is a great doctor and is family practice but they also have pediatricians if that is what you are looking for as well as several specialists in other areas.

E.,

Like Ann Marie, my kids are a little older, 13 & 17. I can't say that I really have a recommendation, but I did want to tell you to trust your "mommy instinct" and if it just doesn't feel right, move on. I remember a relative telling me that I couldn't keep switching doctors until one told me what I wanted to hear. Yes, I could and I did! I had a similar experience, why back then. . .when my 17 year old was little. Poor kid, he had 3 sets of tubes and his adnoids removed before he was 2! I remember arguing with the office nurse about all the meds he had been taking and there had to be something wrong. Anyway, we went through 3 docs in 2 years and FINALLY found one who suggested he might have allergies! Duh! Why didn't I think of that! That physician, who was in Olathe, has retired. Sorry.
I would also suggest like someone did, a Family Practice doc. They see everything, and may be a little more in tune to the whole medical spectrum. I would also look at their office staff. The doctor may be amazing, but if you can't get answers from their billing office, or as in my case, the office nurse treated me like I was some stupid first-time mom, I would't want to deal with them.

In good Health,

Lori

I have a few suggestions regarding the charges for his shots (I work with insurance so this comes up a lot). Check with your insurance provider to see what your coverage is for childhood vaccinations. Most cover the vaccinations 100% and you just pay the office visit copay for the well-baby check-up. Also make sure that your doctor is a provider or is "in-network" for your insurance because if they are out of network, your benefits may differ. I absolutely love my pediatrician at Shawnee Mission Family Practice, Kathryn Foos ###-###-####. She tends to run a bit late at visits, but it is because she takes the time to answer any questions you may have and never makes you feel like you are being rushed out the door.

You've already gotten a lot of great responses, but I had to put in a plug for the KU Med Center, specifically their OB/GYNs and their pediatric clinic at 73rd & Mission. We've been seeing Dr. Lore Nelson since my 9 yr old was born, and she's wonderful, as are all the student doctors and others in the office. The nurse staff is awesome - Kristy always answers my questions quickly, and she's so experienced, sometimes I feel like I've spoken to a physician. They handle almost all insurance, and I've never had a problem.
That said, I do think that sometimes even if other people find a great doctor (in any field) it doesn't necessarily mean you will like them, too. Doctors and nurses are human, and they can have personality conflicts with patients just like people in any other setting. I got a recommendation for an OB/GYN years ago from several women, and found I couldn't stand the guy...
The only loyalty you owe is to your family - keep looking for the pediatrician who clicks with you and your child, and good luck!
N.

I ADORE my pediatrician! Dr. Mark DeRoo is at Associates of Pediatrics College Point. Although our current pediatrician at the time was adequate - I was impressed with the time Dr. DeRoo spent with my son examining him at the hospital when he was 2 days old. I was even more impressed by his attitude and the fact that he spoke to me with care and respect and took the time to answer my questions. And he was 'just' the Doc on Call. (Our other pediatrician was more of a "hello/goodbye" type of person.)

His office is calm, quiet and matter-of-fact. The other office was chaotic at best. I always felt harried and rushed there. Even my old ped's nurse has transferred to his office.

Just a note regarding the milk allergy diagnosis - Sometimes milk allergies mimic many other things. My godson's allergy caused hideous tummy aches, nasty diaper rash and ear infections. And it was breastmilk. Even when his mom(a peds nurse) went off dairy - the symptoms didn't go away. You can see how that can be confusing. (Two kiddos later - they found out it is actually a rare genetic disablity to digest protiens - that worsens in each subsequent child.)

Also, keep in mind that what you end up paying for vaccines is determined by your insurance. My daughter was 4 weeks early and "qualified" under our insurance for the RSV vaccine. However, I ended up paying over $1000 out of pocket for the 3 shots required. (It wasn't covered under the "well-child" vaccines that they covered fully when I paid a co-pay.)

However, I think you're right, tho, about finding a new ped. Your are the parent - you live with your child 24/7. Your doc needs to respect your opinions and take the time to listen to you. Best of luck to you.

We love our pediatrician. His name is Dr. Bryan Nelson and he is with Johnson County Pediatrics which is located at 75th and Antioch. I believe their number is ###-###-####.

E. -
We have a lot in common - I am an E. living in Olathe with a 5 mos old son...my first as well. We looked around quite a bit for doctors and fell in love with Dr. Lance Miller with Preferred Pediatrics. He has a great personality - laughs a lot...very personable and is really sweet with the kids. (I was surprised at some Peds clinical approach to caring for children). Pref Peds has a brand new office (bright & clean!!) across from Olathe Med Center on 151st and I have never had to wait long for appts. I was just there yesterday unexpectedly because of my son's ear infection...I called at 830, they got me in for a 915 appt and I was out of there by 940. I have seen a few other doctors there for sick visits and all have been wonderful. If you do have questions or concerns about vaccinations, I know Dr. Miller is willing to discuss them with you. Their number - ###-###-####. Best of luck!

I urge you to do your research before having your child vaccinated with every single gimic-vaccine thats available these days. Has your Dr. ever mentioned the ingredients? Have you ever asked the ingredients? Mercury, Formaldihyde, just to name a couple. When I was child (born in 1978) there were about 10 vaccines. Now, there is close to 40. Educate yourself about what the pharmaceutical companies agenda's are. There are several great websites: www.educate-yourself.org, www.thinktwice.com, www.beinghealthynaturally.com, etc.

I do know a wonderful Naturopathic Doctor named Ryan Shelton who is located on College & Quivira. His phone # is ###-###-####. He has a family-based practice, treats many children. He has a website: www.wholebodyhealth.com.
Hope this helps!
R.

Well he is in the plaza but Dr. Holleman is WONDERFUL. His office is great, and he is worth is weigh in gold to me. I love how if listen's to me as the mom and if I feel there is something wrong, he keeps digging. He says the best thing to gage a sick kid is what mom says. I like that. If you want is numbers etc.. let me know....

We have always had fabulous experiences with all the Dr.'s in the College Park Family Care Center group.

We go to the one on College just east of K-7, there's also one at College & Quivira - that's where they have their after hours clinic. Their entire system is computerized, so it doesn't matter who you see, they have all your info - big plus! And, if it makes any difference to you, they're a Christian medical group.

And you're good to trust your instinct! Keep listening to that mommy voice and you'll do great!!

T.

E....although my children are now grown (youngest just turned 17) when I moved to Kansas, I found the most perfect pediatrician...he was a pharmacist, went back to school to become a pediatrician...he is the most wonderful doctor and does not simply throw medicine at children! All three of my children adore him. Dr. Don Vannaman in Overland Park. What better combination in a pediatrician could you find?

Hi E.,

We also use Pediatric Partners for our 2-year-old, however, we see Dr. Mellick. I have only ever been charged the copay on each visit, including when we have had immunizations. So, that seems weird to me you are getting charged...it must be something with your insurance.

Anyway, we are also thinking of making a switch. We too live in Olathe, so something closer would be nice, but we have also been very disappointed in the amount of time we spend waiting at the office when we have appt's, no matter the time of day. My daughter had pink-eye (again!) a couple months ago, and my husband was there with her for nearly 2 HOURS for them to diagnose it and order a prescription. That's a bit outrageous.
We also have friends who recently switched from seeing Dr. Mellick after they had trouble getting their son's issues diagnosed, and their sister even used to work in the office as a nurse at PP, so I was surprised to hear they left. I do like Dr. mellick as a person, and she's always seemed caring and understanding, but I can't stand the wait times any more! Best of luck to you!

I absolutely LOVE our pediatrician. She is with the Johnson County Pediatrics group. Her name is Dr. Mary Tyson. They are located near the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Here is the exact location....
Antioch Hills Building
8800 W 75th St, Ste 220
Shawnee Mission, KS 66204-4001
###-###-####
Dr. Tyson is our peditrician but we've gone to several others in the group and have really liked all of them. I would highly recommend this practice!!

Village Pediatrics North of the intersection of 75th and Mission, Dr Bob Cohen. plus they have evening hours and saturday hours and so far they are charging us just the regular copay not urgent care. and they are faster than urgent care. this will matter a lot when your baby starts walking and can't stand waiting and hour or more in urgent care til dr sees him/her.

also the bit about the shots? I thought that there was a state or fed law where you cannot for immunizations? maybe i am wrong.

I've worked at Johnson County Pediatrics for over 3 years. We have 10 doctors, offer walk in for sick visits in the mornings for established patients and have Saturday urgent care hours. My kids see Dr. Rawson, and she is a really sweet person. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat their support people, and she's so good to everyone on the staff. Our nurses are awesome, too. We accept most insurance, except Coventry and Healthwave. The number is ###-###-####.

As for the charges for shots, we charge an administraton fee(basically costs for supplies, and for the nurse) of $20 for the first shot, then $12 for the following ones. We don't charge at that visit, but it gets billed to your insurance. If you're being charged for that at the office level, it is probably an insurance issue.

Mary Jo Flint is in the same practice with Dr. Vannaman, as is Dr. Heaphy. I like them both, the office is well-run, and the decorating scheme is very kid-focused, not clinical (a huge plus, in my book). They're in the medical building south of and adjacent to OPRMC, at I435 & Quivira: ###-###-####.

As for vaccinations, three recommendations: ask for combined shots whenever possible. My first pediatrician, 25 years ago, administered and charged separately for measles, mumps, & rubella vaccinations. With my second child, just 19 months later, I learned that it's standard to administer just one MMR vaccination. You can go to the county for immunizations, but I would only recommend that if they specifically offer immunization clinics. Otherwise, you face a looong wait among all sorts of people who can be quite sick (and contagious).

Third, read the accompanying literature. Had I not done so, I may have simply accepted that my child's limpness after receiving the pertussis vaccination was normal, which is what the 1st doc, above, assured me of. Well, it's not normal. LUCKILY I'd decided to go to the county for immunizations between the 1st and 2nd inoculations; there I received literature I needed to sign off on. Something in the literature flagged my attention, which triggered me to mention the limp reaction just before he would have received the second round. The vaccination was halted: he was allergic to the serum and could likely have died from subsequent injections! Rather, he received DTs thereafter rather than DPTs . . . as did the next child, as he, too, went limp after the first DPT.

Bottom line: be alert & vigilant (and say hello to Dr. Flint for me -- Nicki Joy's mom).

Dear E.,
I work in a medical office and thought I could give you some insight into the co-payment part of your question. The co-pay is an agreement between the physican office and your insurance company. They have to abide by the contract and collect the co-payment at each visit. Your insurance is billed with every visit and they want to make sure you are paying your part too. Now I do know some insurance companies bill in what's called a "global period", for example, when you are pregnant you pay a one time co-payment and then the rest of the visit are covered until you give birth or when you have surgery you have 90 day grace period to follow up with your doctor for continual care without a co-pay. You may just need to check with your insurance to review benefits. I deal with insurance companies everyday and it can be overwhelming with all the rules and regulations. Good Luck!!

Hello! We have been very happy with Aundria Speropoulos at Child Care Ltd and also with the other partners we have seen there. They are in the St Joseph Medical Center at 435 & State Line. The practice came highly recommended to us by my father-in-law, a recently retired ob-gyn. I would definately change doctors now as this sounds very frustrating!
Good luck,
K. S