Harpeth Pediatrics in Franklin...NEVER AGAIN! (Brentwood, Green Hill: insurance, school, income)

[Jjasking]

So here is my experience with them for a 5 year old well child visit:

First off we were greeted with a urine cup. I said, this is for a well child visit, not a sick visit, what's with the cup? 'Oh that is always done, it is recommended by the AAP?' Uhm, no it isn't. So I decline it. If I had listened to my gut I would have left right then.

Unlike our previous pediatrician, this practice does not even shine a light in my childs' eyes, let alone, perform an eye sight screening (the old fashioned paper eye chart and 3-d fly test).

Of course they give the option to pay for the machine thingy which you find in some optometrist offices. They do not take and record blood pressure readings, which over time is valuable, and a non-invasive screening agent, and not billable, I add cynically.

Yet, they 'customarily' do the following labs: blood draw with full CBC, and cholesterol test. So couple this with a separate charge an eye exam, and urine test and you have a pretty high bill.

None of these extra tests are recommended by the AAP, as claimed by the receptionist or the physicians' assistant we saw, I assume they know better... but I digress.

Speaking of bills, here is how it breaks down:
varicella: 104.00;
MMR $67;
Hep A $65,
plus a charge of $25 for EACH administration of the vaccine,
$166.25 for the patient exam.

Even after the insurance adjustment for $142.57, we were billed $84.68. I have never paid a dime for a well child visit in the high cost of living east coast, and my insurance has the same benefit plan hereso this is a huge surprise

I do not begrudge anybody a living, and if they had been awesome, loving and kind to my child, and performed standard medical services (they were more like an assembly line, for instance wanting to hold my child prone on the table for immunizations at age 5!) I wouldn't be so angry.

There 'practice' seem designed to pad their wallet rather than being concerned with the health or well being of the children. I will never have my child there ever again.

[bnsilly]

I can not imagine them putting every "well" child through drawing blood..that is not right, and not standard. (I am an RN and pediatric nurse).
Do you have a health department in the area? That is often a great place to get immunizations because they will use a sliding scale based on income and are very inexpensive..I think it is like $14 max in our area. It's a great resource when only immunizations are needed throughout school.
Sorry you had a bad experience..Hope you can find a great, caring pediatrician for future visits~

[BirdieBelle]

I've noticed this going on with dentists as well.

I have been going to Pediatric Associates of Franklin for nearly 15 years and have had no problems. I haven't had a first-time visit in a while, but you should interview them and mention these concerns so you can get a feel for whether it is the place for you.

I can recommend Dr. Carr, Dr. Chambers and Dr. Brooks. 790-3200 if you're interested.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

[brentwoodgirl]

We go to Brentwood Children's Clinic and really like them. They do take a urine sample to test for protein in the urine. But they don't take a blood sample once you are over the age of 2. (They do occassional finger pokes for iron tests at younger ages.)
They do a hearing and vision screening and they don't have any weird charges on their well visit.
We pay a $15 copay for well visits and that's all we are ever charged.
Our doctor is Dr. Lee if you want to try him.

Sorry you had a bad experience. It might be the individual doctor you saw ordering all those things and not typical of all the doctors in that practice.

[disneybelle73]

Wow, we just switched to them after moving to Franklin a few months ago. My little guy has a yearly physical due in December...

[akm4]

Another perspective-

My kids have been seeing Dr. Collins at Harpeth Peds for over 9 years now and haven't had a single bad experience with him. He's great with my kids. They trust him, which is more important, the older they get. Dr. Collins takes his time with us and never makes us feel rushed. On several occasions I have declined tests (on the basis of cost, etc.) and have never been pressured in that regard.

I'm not arguing your bad time. It sounds awful! Just wondering if maybe someone there was having a stressful day (which should NEVER be at the expense of a child). When you likened it to an assembly line, and felt they weren't kind or loving to your child, it just sounds SO unlike them.

I hope you ultimately find a doctor you and your child love.

Did you take your child out for ice cream afterward?

[nALgirl]

Heritage Peds in Green Hills has awesome pediatricians!!

[imogene]

We've been going to Harpeth Peds for 3 years and have been happy there. I'm sorry your experience was so negative.

[septimus]

We've been going to Harpeth Peds for almost 4 years now and we've been very happy too. Our insurance covers 100% of our check ups and immunizations. I know when we lived in Mass, the state actually paid for vaccinations for all children if insurance didn't to encourage everyone to be vaccinated. TN doesn't provide such reimubursement to private practices.

Peeing in a cup is pretty normal once a child reaches a certain age (3/4).

[Nurse07]

While everyone has their own opinion about different offices, one person may have a great experience and while getting the same treatment another person may say the had a bad experience. Pediatric offices test for different things at different times- eye tests- urine tests- hearing evals- Cholesterol tests- to ensure the best health of your child if this is not what you believe in then maybe another office is your choice... I dont think there is a right or wrong, many of these tests have saved children from obesity and iron deficiency - or even referring them to an audiologist or a eye doctor. So...to the lady who had a terrible experience - it isnt a BLOOD DRAW it is a finger stick- 5 years and older they get a Cholesterol test and a CBC- and in my experience from that - MANY of our children HAVE HIGH cholesterol - and they can do something about it at a younger age with diet!!!! So, I guess if doing to many standard tests doesnt work for you --- then the Health department would be a perfect choice for you to have your child examined!!! WOW! I guess I feel better knowing my doctor does everything to know if my child is healthy!!!