Pediatritian Rant

I have to change Pediatricians. Now. Due to my son being born in Canada and moving twice since then he missed one of his vaccinations along the way. He missed his Hep B. The nurse went through his records and discovered he was missing this shot which he needs for school. We went about 2 months ago and got this shot and if you know anything about 4 year olds, it was traumatic. He is at the age where he understands it and hates it.

On Monday I saw that it was time to sign him up for Kindergarten and called the pediatrician to get a copy of the shot records so I can go next week to sign him up at the school he will attend. They require 48 hours to print off the records and have them ready for pick up. I went yesterday after dropping my son off at preschool. The nurse called me back after the office staff couldn't find it.

Seems he didn't get the shot he needed. The way the nurse put it was "he needs to get another shot". I said, in a very loud voice " he got the WRONG shot?" She said "I wouldn't put it that way." I asked her how would she put it. She said he didn't get the wrong one just not the one he needed. RIGHT. "He got the WRONG shot?" He needed a Hep B, he got a Hep A. Hep A is NOT required for school. She said "well, if that's how you want to put it." I said again "he got the WRONG shot?" By this time parents in the waiting room are looking at me and holding thier kids a little closer. I said "explain to me how he is supposed to get one shot, he gets a different shot and how that is not the wrong shot." I know what is going on here, they are covering their asses.

I tell her I want the doctor told. I want to know who the nurse was and want her to have nothing to do with either son's records, shots, appointments, care, nothing. She said she will do so.

In order for my son to attend kindergarden he has to get another shot. After I promised him no more shots. I feel horrible. I figire I will pick him up from school run him over then take him to lunch then let him go spend some of his Christmas money. Make it an all-about-Stas day. Hopefully take some of the bad away. I call the office and talk to the nurse and tell her that I will pick him up at his school, which is right across the street from their office, run him over and be done with it. She says they go to lunch at 12 but can see him at 1:45. No. You can't. You gave him the wrong shot, remember? You can wait 10 minutes to go to lunch. She decides to wait on us.

He is ok going into the room. As soon as he sees the needle he freaks. It takes 3 of us to hold him so he doesn't kick the nurse. Although, between me and you, I wouldn't have been to upset had she gotten a tennis shoe to the chin. I got a knee to the throat, but that's ok. I'm a mommy.

Then after all this she says she talked to the doctor. The Hep A is a series of 2 shots and the doctor recommends we come back in 6 months for the second shot. I asked her if she was nuts. She reminds me it is recomended. So? She says in a few years the school system may make it mandatory. Great. In a few years it won't take 3 people to give the kid a shot.

Oh and where is the doctor? It would be nice if he had decided to come and talk to me in person since his office screwed up so badly and gave my son the wrong shot. He's in a meeting she said. "Yeah, wouldn't want him to miss his lunch." I said. "Really, he's in a meeting." she said. "Right, he should have been here." I said.

I'm in the middle of switching doctors now.