[jerseymama]

As my last thread knows, my family and I will be moving to Colchester this May. Since we will need to locate all new doctors, I am wondering which hospital is best to make sure an OB and Pediatrician are affiliated with? How are Lawrence and Memorial in New London and Hartford Hospitals? I know there is another one nearby too, but don't know how well-received it is. Can anyone offer any insight here?

Any Doctor/Dentist/chiroprator suggestions? This is quite a daunting task!

[uconn99]

Hartford is one of the better hospitals in New England. I would go to Backus Hospital in Norwich before New London.

I am not sure exactly where Colchester sends their emerency's, maybe Norwich?


Windham is too far and so isn't Middletown.

[KirbyJRT]

Backus is in Norwich is maybe 10-15 minutes off route 2 east. They also built a new emergency/clinic on Rte 85 across from Harry's.

[mels]

Backus is probably the closest, which is in Norwich as mentioned already. I didn't know Colchester had an emergency clinic. Marlborough has an emergency center that is open 24 hours (they used to only be open 7 am to 11 pm). My friend is a paramedic in the area and apparently ambulences take people to these smaller medical centers until they are stabilized, then they move them to Backus, Hartford Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, or wherever they are going.

[KirbyJRT]

Originally Posted by mels

Backus is probably the closest, which is in Norwich as mentioned already. I didn't know Colchester had an emergency clinic. Marlborough has an emergency center that is open 24 hours (they used to only be open 7 am to 11 pm). My friend is a paramedic in the area and apparently ambulences take people to these smaller medical centers until they are stabilized, then they move them to Backus, Hartford Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, or wherever they are going.

You are correct. The Backus facility in Colchester was a walk-in. The emergency center is in Marlborough.

I suppose if you ran into the walk-in with your arm hanging off. They may help you as long as you have your insurance card

[Soxfan Mom]

Hi JerseyMama,

I came out of Lurkdom to offer some suggestions. I live in Colchester and have had ER situations with all three kids. I highly recommend the Marlborough satellite ER of Middlesex Hospital. Everyone there is wonderful and it is open 24 hours now (used to close at 11 p.m.).

You can PM me for pediatrician advice, as I'm pretty sure what I would say about the pediatrician choice in Colchester would be a user violation. We bring our kids to Middletown; I can give you details if you'd like.

Depending on what part of Jersey you're from, you might find yourself experiencing culture shock in Colchester. That's what my mother went through when we moved here when I was young (from Westwood, N.J.). Thirty-five years later, I think she is still going through it to a degree!

[emt92339]

Marlborough Medical Center (also known as "The Clinic") is great for minor emergencies or when you have a sick kid in the middle of the night and dont want to wait to see your pediatrician. I am an EMT with one of the local vol fire dept's and I can tell you that the staff at the clinic are top notch. They actually care about their patients.

For major emergencies, surguries, etc DO NOT go to Backus. It is an absolute joke. The ER nurses are rude, crude and unprofessional (on a good day). They think they walk on water becasue they are in the "city" of Norwich. Well, the hospitals in Hartford deal with MUCH worse on a daily basis and they manage to treat their patients with dignity and respect. My sources tell me that Backus is about to loose their Level II trauma designation, thank Goodness.

Please do yourself a favor and go to Hartford Hospital or St Francis instead. My wife delivered both of our children at St Francis and it was absolutely wonderful.

[BETSRN]

Middlesex Hospital is an EXCELLENT facility. I worked there (as a nurse) and was also a patient there twice. I always received excellent care. It is a top quality facility in all regards.

[BETSRN]

Originally Posted by Soxfan Mom

Hi JerseyMama,

I came out of Lurkdom to offer some suggestions. I live in Colchester and have had ER situations with all three kids. I highly recommend the Marlborough satellite ER of Middlesex Hospital. Everyone there is wonderful and it is open 24 hours now (used to close at 11 p.m.).

You can PM me for pediatrician advice, as I'm pretty sure what I would say about the pediatrician choice in Colchester would be a user violation. We bring our kids to Middletown; I can give you details if you'd like.

Depending on what part of Jersey you're from, you might find yourself experiencing culture shock in Colchester. That's what my mother went through when we moved here when I was young (from Westwood, N.J.). Thirty-five years later, I think she is still going through it to a degree!

I can recommend Middletown pediatricians as well. E-mail me at BETSRN@comcast.net

[jerseymama]

Thanks again for the continued info on hospitals and docs in the area....recently learned I am pregnant with #2 and have chosen to go thru Middlesex Hospital. Any recs for pediatricians in the area are very welcome.

Jen