Group Medical Practices - Am I Being Silly?

[RiseAndWine]

I go to a group practice for my OBGYN. I started with them when I became pregnant. The doctor I was assigned to was ok, but I never got a great vibe from her. The practice makes you meet with each of the other docs at least once as you never know who will be on call when you have your baby. There is another doctor at the practice who I love and clicked with immediately. As it happens, he's the one who delivered my baby. So that solidified my decision to switch to him from that point. So for the past 2 years I've been seeing doc #2 and it has been wonderful.

Well I had an issue come up and I needed to make an appointment for tomorrow. My doc doesn't have anything available that works with my schedule so they put me on with Doctor #1. I'm nervous about seeing her since I "dropped her." Do you think she will care or even remember? Do doctor's get offended at this sort of thing? I know they all say it has to be a good match, but seriously, I don't want to feel embarrassed or nervous throughout the appointment, feeling like she's wondering why I dropped her.

Any experience with this? Am I overreacting?

[b0710]

I would guess that your feelings about her are much stronger than her feelings about you (if she really remembers you....she might just think she saw you in the rotation). I attend a group practice and have a normal doctor that I see for everything. However, if for some reason I cannot get into him, I appreciate the fact that someone else can and will see me. I would try not to worry about it, especially at the risk of making things awkward when they probably wouldn't have been

[2chatter]

Our practice didn't let you switch - for peds - so I dropped the whole practice. I never thought about that "awkward scenario" but can tell you that seriously RIGHT AFTER I told the ped to his face that I was changing doctors we had to go in to an evening clinic on a weekend. Guess who was rotating through? Yeah, the ped I dumped to his face. That was awesome, as I was there with DS, who was still having breathing issues, after consulting a new dr and discounting the advice of the dr I was seeing at night on a weekend with a child whose oxygen levels I wanted monitored. You KNOW that ped thought "dumb woman, should have listened to me" but DS was fine, he told me he was fine and the new dr and new course of meds was indeed the right pick.

But it was awkward for me, internally. I don't think the dr you saw will make an issue of it at all or perhaps even remember. She will be professional and hopefully buys in to the hoopla.

[aylafsu1881]

Honestly, I don't think she will care or be upset. Some patients mesh well with certain doctors. I think it is par for the course. If you had a horrible falling out, cussing, yelling situation it may be different.
I go to a large OB-GYN practice (8 doctors) as well. They recommend you rotate since you may see the on call OB to deliver. I was so-so on my origional OB but really liked the on call OB who delivered LO. I switched OBs for my second preg and using the OB I delivered with.

[stellabunny]

I wouldn't think the doctor would care at all as long as you just quietly switched and didn't go out in flames. I've switched doctors before; sometimes you just don't mesh with the one you have and I think people understand that.

[emmyg65]

It's very normal and shouldn't be a big deal. Especially since Dr. 2 delivered your baby, Dr. 1 will probably understand.

[sunbutter]

I think you are over thinking it.

[queenbabee]

As someone who works in a group practice, it will be weirder for you than it will be for her (if she is even aware that you requested the switch). If for some reason she is aware (at least where I work) there are no grudges and we typically over compensate so you don't complain. But honestly, in a group practice where they have to see every patient at least once, #1 probably has no clue.
I wouldn't worry & GL at visit

[RiseAndWine]

Thanks for putting my mind at ease!

[judyblume14]

Inquiring minds want to know if the doctor even realized you'd switched?

[anewadventure]

i see i am a little late. i'll say anyway that unless you specifically made a big deal about switching, the doc probably doesn't even know it happened. especially in a group OB practice, they see SO many different patients because of all the pregnancy appointments that are standard in western medicine. i actually got frustrated that the docs don't remember you better after seeing them multiple times.

did the appointment go ok? it's always frustrating to have to see a doctor that you like less than your preferred choice. that's definitely standard around where i live.

[mrssqueegy]

She will not care.

[RiseAndWine]

Haha she knew!! She was nice about it. She was like "oh my goodness how are you, I haven't seen you since you were in labor!" But it's funny, I actually had a way better experience with her today than I ever had before so I'm kind of glad I went to the appointment with her. Now I won't be dreading it in the future.