Kaiser? 😬 YIKES! UPDATE

Question

UPDATE POSTED IN COMMENTS- INSANE!!!
I'm new to Kaiser and very nervous about their system for prenatal care and delivery. I'm being told that I have to go see a different doctor or midwife at every prenatal visit and that when I go into labor, it's a random person that I may or may not have met who will deliver me. I requested to designate an OB/GYN as my regular doctor, they allowed me to choose one but then told me that for prenatal care they do not allow you to see the same doctor for each visit. I personally would like to have background and knowledge of who is going to be putting their hands inside of my body and charged with protecting my baby's life. Does anyone have any IRL experience insights on Kaiser prenatal and Delivery?

Answer

I really like Kaiser. But I had all of my prenatal appointments with my regular OB/GYN. It's true the your baby will be delivered by whatever doc is on duty at the time. They have different staff for delivery versus appointments. It worked well for me.

Answer

We had Kaiser for two days which I spent on the phone nearly the entire day both days attempting to schedule appointments because you cannot schedule directly with an appointment person, and OB/GYN nurse has to call you back and so they have to email them in the system for them to call you within 24 business hours.
They told me the only appointment they had of the next three months within 20 miles of my house in orange county California was with one doctor. A quick Google of reviews of this doctor and reading his yelp shows him to be accused of being abusive to patients over years with multiple families. 
My husband and I called back to let the Kaiser people know that I wanted a different doctor and they told me they would put me on a waitlist to see what comes up within the next three months but that I would miss all of my testing and ultrasounds and would not be seen at all and putting my baby at risk.
On top of this they told me I could select an OB/GYN with Kaiser but that they would only do my regular well woman stuff and they do not handle prenatal, prenatal in this area is only handle by specific doctors all of which I looked up where rated poorly.
We live in one of the wealthiest areas in the world is not the country and this is the shoddiest healthcare I have ever seen. No choice in who is handling my life or my child's life and very private personal exams.
Needless to say after 48 hours we contacted another insurance carrier and switched to get away from this nightmare of an assembly line of healthcare. If this is the way they operate throughout their system, I'm shocked and amazed that women would allow themselves to be treated this way without any choices.

Answer

I've had the same doctor for all my visits. You pick one and they see you until it's time to deliver.

Answer

I love Kaiser. I'm pregnant with number 4 & 3 of my 4 pregnancies have been with Kaiser. I've seen my obgyn throughout my pregnancy up until my 28 week appointment. At that appointment, they scheduled my visit with a midwife. From that appointment until I deliver, I'll switch off between seeing my obgyn and midwife. It is true that whatever doc on duty when you go into labor, will deliver your baby.

Answer

I had Kaiser for 6 years when I was teaching before I went under my husband's insurance. I was happy with my experience and I always went to the same general practitioner and OB/GYN. I never used their Prenatal care, but I have a few friends who delivered with Kaiser and they all had great experiences. You should be able to see the same OB for your Prenatal care if you request it, but there is never a guarantee that you'll know the doctor who delivers you. I have private insurance and my OB has said from the beginning that she will most likely deliver me, but if she's not on call I'll be delivered by whoever is on call that day. I think that's pretty normal as you can't expect someone to work 24/7. You will be fine, I promise!

Answer

I'm due to deliver with Kaiser in 4 weeks. But so far my experience has been really good. They told me I'd be seen by different docs throughout the pregnancy that way I would be familiar with whoever was on duty to deliver at the time of my labor. My first "main" OBGYN went on maternity leave after our 2nd appointment, so no controlling that one. Saw a couple different docs at first. And then for about 5 appointments straight I was able to request to be seen by the same midwife each time. My nurse would always schedule the appointments in person after each exam. Since then I've been seen by 3 other individuals because of my midwife not having availability. I think it's been a total of 6 or 7 different doctors so far? It's been actually really nice getting to know each dr and how each one practices. I feel comfortable with whoever will end up showing up to deliver my little boy 👍🏼 don't let it scare you, I know it scared me at first lol.

Kaiser? 😬 YIKES! UPDATE

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