I need help with an etiquette question. I would like to switch doctors within an OB/GYN practice. My doctor now splits her time between two locations and so there is often a long wait to see her unless I want to go to her second practice which is considerably farther away. Coincidentally she has also been traveling recently when I've needed to be seen. As a result the last two times I've needed to make an appointment I've been scheduled to see another doctor and I actually found her more responsive and easier to talk to than my current doctor. So I would like to switch but is this a broach of etiquette? Will the new doctor even want to take me as a new patient or will that cause weird office politics? Or are the doctors too busy to even notice if they lose a patient here or there? If I do switch do I have to give a reason? Any doctors out there who can offer their perspective?
My husband is a doctor. Patients switch to different doctors within the practice all the time. Most of the time it is scheduling-related, or at least they tell the doctor that so there are no hard feelings :)
Just call and ask if the other doctor is taking new patients.
They see too many patients to care about patients who switch. When you call for your next appointment just ask to see the dr like. If the staff asks then tell them that you've decided that since that dr has seen you the last couple times you'd like to continue care with her.
I've been in the medical community for over 7 years now.
Switching is not a big deal. Nobody will be offended. It's likely, that if your new OB/GYN is overbooked, you might see your old one! They'll understand...they're partners in practice for a reason.
You'll just have to ask if the doctor will accept you as a patient. I know my friend went to see my GYN and after several appointments, it just wasn't a good match. But she switched to another doctor in the office and loves the new doctor. She said there was no weirdness at all, even when she bumped into the old doc.
But my hubby wanted to switch gastroenterologists because he didn't care for his. He could not see anyone in the entire network - easily a dozen different offices. As a professional courtesy that network did not allow the doctors to "take" patients from each other. You had to wait at least six months from your last appointment before they would even consider it.
I know you wanted a doctor's perspective, which I'm not, but.... I switched doctors once - actually happened kind of like your situation - my usual doctor was on vacation and I was seen by another doctor within the same practice. I wasn't happy with my original doctor anyways (terrible bedside manner!) so any time I needed an appointment I just continued with the "new" one! No drama - no one ever questioned why I switched. If they would have, I was prepared to tell them! To be honest, I don't think the other doctor even noticed!!
It's your body - you should be seen by someone you're comfortable with and not worry about hurting anyone's feelings.
Good luck!!
Who cares? Its your health you see what ever doctor you want, you don't have to worry about hurting feelings. I go to an office that has three doctors and a NP. I did not like the doctor I was seeing (She brushed aside some major health problems and always seems in such a rush) so I switched. Oh and I am related to her, and I still didn't worry about it.
I wouldn't worry about it. Just start making appointments with the new doc. You shouldn't have to give a reason, but if you feel you do, simply state that you liked your previous doctor, but you need one that is more easily accessable. There should be no hard feelings.
I have done this a couple of times. All you have to say is you want to switch to the OBGYN you like. They usually do not ask. If they do ask why ...just tell her what you wrote here.
I doubt the doctor will even notice. I did this once in our pediatric practice. We saw a different doc one day and I liked him so much better than our regular one that the next time I called to make an appointment I told the nurse we'd like Dr. so and so to be our new primary pediatrician. She just said sure, no problem, didn't even ask why. It was no big deal, especially since all the records and charts are right there in the same office.
