Lake, Marjorie, Md - Old Schoolhouse Pediatrics Inc

I've never posted a review before, but I just read the two previous 1- and 2-star comments (jenniJ and BABY G) and had to add my positive remarks.\r \r It is true that you will likely get a NP if you don't specifically ask for one of the doctors. Like jenniJ, I'm generally fine with this. However, unlike jenniJ, I've never had a problem getting in to one of the doctors if I request one while making an appointment, especially if I state that I have a concern that I specifically want the doctor to attend to. That said, I've found the NPs to be very responsive to my concerns. \r \r As for the staff, I've never found them to be rude like the other two reviewers have, but I will agree that the front desk ladies don't seem to go out of their way to be particularly friendly. As for ""unhelpful and uncaring,"" I've had the opposite experience. As in all doctors' offices, they are very busy and don't have time to chit-chat, but I've never felt put off.\r \r Drs. King and Meadows are definitely more 'warm and fuzzy' than Dr. Lake, who is to-the-point and can come across as very short and, I supppose, rude. She was that way when she doctored my step-son 15 years ago, and she's that way now with my daughter. I'm not surprised that some people don't like her for that reason. However, she's very caring (if you look past the straight-forward attitude) and extremely thorough. I've gotten her on call a couple of times, and she's always returned my calls right away--one time in the middle of church choir practice--and called back to follow up just like she said she would. Once, when I apologized for calling after hours, she assured me that she would rather help after hours than have my child suffer until the office opened the next morning. All three of these doctors are phenomenal.\r \r As jenniJ points out, they do have Saturday hours, but I've always been told that it's 9:00 until ""around 12:00 or the waiting room is clear."" I'd have been mad, too, if I'd thought they were there until straight-up 12:00. If it was something important, that's what the on-call number is for.\r \r On the subject of hours, I've always been able to get in the same day when something comes up suddenly. And, even better, they will see your child WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT first thing in the morning if something comes up overnight and you think it's important enough not to wait until they can fit you in later in the day. Yes, it will be a Nurse Practitioner and not one of the doctors, but it's nice to know you can just SHOW UP in the morning if you need to.\r \r I couldn't imagine taking my daughter anywhere else. more

I have been going to Old Schoolhouse for 3 years now. I have only seen a Dr. two times. I almost ALWAYS get foisted off on the Nurse Practitioner. The say you can request an actual Dr, but then you can't get an appointment for days! In general, I was okay with this. For check ups and colds and croup I was fine with seeing the NP. But then I took my son in when he had a nasty cough and bags under his eyes. He had been sick like that for 2 weeks and I had to see the NP. She told me not to worry, it was just allergies and to give him allergy medicine. Three weeks latter when he was still sick I took him back and demanded to see a Dr. We saw Dr. King (I LOVE her!) and it turns out my son had a really bad case of pneumonia! He was out of school for weeks! He almost had to be hospitalized. Then there was the Saturday hours. I think its great that they have Saturday hours. God bless them! But the hours are supposed to be from 9-12 so why, when I call at 11:40 are the phones already off and the doors locked? I mean, if your not busy, fine. But your hours are your hours. Whats the point of having them if you aren't going to honor them? Even then, I was willing to give them another try and just demand to see only a Dr. but when I called this morning to make an appointment, the office staff was so unhelpful and uncaring that I had to call it quits. It's really a shame. I truly love Dr. King, but I just can't stand this anymore. more

Rude staff!!! In the middle of talking to them would walk away or cut me off. Every time I call the on call and Dr. Lake is on she is RUDE and very SHORT!! Its sad you would think working with childeren they would be friendlier! I think the world of Dr. Meadows and Dr. King but sadley I have to come in to contact with the rude front desk staff so I am finding a new doctors office for my baby! I dont care if I wake a ped up in the middle of the night with what I think is a concern.. and they replied well it is late and I am tired..... that says enough! Smile front desk staff it wont hurt to!!!!! more

My son is gaining weight slowly and had a previous doctor who went over the top, not in a good way, with every little thing. This place made up for everything thanks so much. more