Pediatrician Recommendations

Dr.Freeman at shoal pediatric is very good.

My husband and I just adopted a new born baby 6 weeks ago today and we decided to use Dr. Carter at Shoals Peds because he also has adopted children. We loved him when we took our daughter to him. He was down to earth and very personable.

DR. FREEMAN & DR. CARTER are the only 2 people that I will trust my children to. Seen Dr. Freeman in his office yesterday as a matter of fact. Both are very personable & my kids absoulutely love both of them! But Dr. Freeman won our hearts from day one, first pediatrician to see my kids!! He knows how to deal with children, like yesterday he came in & said oh, NO! not these Knuckle heads again. & that just set my kids off giggling. so yes, I would recommend "Dr. Knucklehead" to anyone.

ITS ALL ME - there is a Dr. Melvin over @ by Keller. My sister uses him for her 4 yr old., & he is very good, not sure that it is the same one though.

I would not recommend Dr. Hammond @ shoals peds. It is my own personal opinion, yes I have dealt with him on SEVERAL, SEVERAL occasions. We have a 18 yr old & 5yr old twins. & none of them will see Dr. Hammond unless it is an absolute emergency. He is a good doctor, But not very personalable at all & NO BED SIDE MANNER.

Again, my own personal opinion, so you Dr. Hammond Lovers - dont start bashing me. I just think he should be a grown up dr. instead of a pediatrician.

congrats on the baby!!! Nothin in the world like it!!

quote:

Originally posted by pain&panicsmom:
ITS ALL ME - there is a Dr. Melvin over @ by Keller. My sister uses him for her 4 yr old., & he is very good, not sure that it is the same one though.

I would not recommend Dr. Hammond @ shoals peds. It is my own personal opinion, yes I have dealt with him on SEVERAL, SEVERAL occasions. We have a 18 yr old & 5yr old twins. & none of them will see Dr. Hammond unless it is an absolute emergency. He is a good doctor, But not very personalable at all & NO BED SIDE MANNER.

Again, my own personal opinion, so you Dr. Hammond Lovers - dont start bashing me. I just think he should be a grown up dr. instead of a pediatrician.

I had heard the same thing about Hammond from other sources. I was told that he was probably the most knowledgeable doctor in the area but that he was a first class A-hole. I'm with you... If you're working with adults you can be a jerk as long as you know what you're talking about, but bedside manner is 1/2 of the equation when dealing with children.

Having worked and also used these folks for my own children....I recommend Shoals Peds, They are all GOOD MD's. In an emergency situation I would use Dr. Hammond, just overlook the attitude, thats just him, but he is one of the best docs here, If my child was severly sick thats who I use. If he doesn't know how to treat them then he sends out of here where they can get the treatment they need. Dr. Moore is a very sweet and caring person, she also is very good with emergencies.. As I said I have taken my kids there, as well as have worked in the hospital setting and home setting with all of these guys.... wouldn't use anyone else here in the shoals

I use shoals ped. and I love it! As for Dr. Hammond He comes across grumpy but he is very nice,he is the smartest and most knowledge Doctor I know.I personally appreciate the honesty he carries,I can overlook the fact that he is not on the kids level but that he is own mine.My kids love him.My 2 year old had Staph Infection for a year and had been into the office over 8 times with boils that was so painful and seen everyone else and they continue with the "insect bite" diagnosis,last visit she was seen by Hammond and he looked at her looked at the chart and diagnosed her,treated it gave me instrutions and knowledge on it and she has not had it since that has been 3 years.I would much rather have an experienced,knowledged Doctor than one with a great personality or entertains my kids.That is just my opinion,I cannot stand DR. HOLLIS in Killen he almost killed my mother and is an a----le!Just my opinion

Changing the subject here a little bit. Speaking of heart doctors and eye doctors. I went to a heart doctor and an eye doctor for a few years and both of them have a name of been the best doctors. Neither one of them had any bedside manners in my opinion. The two I dislike was Heaton and Taft.

I got rid of them and got me another heart and eye doctor and they are just as smart or better and both of them have great bedside manners. The ones I like is Little and Brummitt.

I'm really do just as well or better with the friendliest doctors that the ones that have no class about them. What makes you happy you , you will always feel good.

I use Dr. Crenshaw and Dr. Hamilton at Infants and Children's Clinic in Florence. They are both excellent doctors that I trust completely, and I especially love Dr. Crenshaw's sweet personality.

I've been told that Dr. Allen or Allan (not sure how he spells his name) was really good. I'm not sure where he is but we were told he was knowledgeable and very personable.

The only problem I've heard with some of the places (I think it was Infants and Childrens but could be wrong) was that you weren't guaranteed to see your doctor. Basically you get the doctor that is there when you need to be seen. I don't like that idea.

Anyone ran into this situation?

quote:

Originally posted by geddon97:
Dr.Freeman at shoal pediatric is very good.

Dr. FREEMAN!!! He is so loving, so caring and spends a lot of time with his "kids".

All my grandkids go to him, and I wish he had of been around when MY kids were small.

zann - TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON DR. HOLLIS. Q-U-A-C-K-!!! He did the same thing with my great g'ma. She had a "sore" on her leg, he kept doctoring it with "salve" telling her that it was getting better when indeed it was CANCER & his "lotion" was doing nothing for it.

I have a little one that just turned one. We have seen all the doctors at Shoals Pediatrics. I like Dr. Freeman the best when it comes to check-ups and minor things. My daughter loves him. We had lots of problems with her ears though early on, and ultimately ended up having Dr. Long, an ENT, put tubes in. Anyway, leading up to that point every time we saw Dr. Freeman he just glanced in her ears and brushed it off as nothing and then 2 days later we would be back and would see Dr. Hammond, who would take the time to really clean her ears out and look a long time and determine that they were infected. Having said that, Dr. Hammond doesn't win the congeniality award with us, but if I feel like my daughter has an ear infection or something major we see him now. Fortunately, since we had tubes done in June, we've not had any ear infections since. YEA!

***A side note, if you have to ever see an ear, nose & throat doctor, go to Dr. Allen Long in Sheffield. He is wonderful and with his personality, I think he should have been a pediatrician. He didn't act like a typical specialist at all.

I have to second the thought about Dr. Allen Long. When my son was four years old he had a terrible dog bite, the dog bit him on the top of his head. We took him to ECM emergency, of course they was busy, The Dr. on duty allowed my son to sit around with a piece of his scalp hanging for several hours without doing anything but to give him shots for pain, with epidrin(whatever the name?). It went on and on, I was frantic the doctor said they was too busy to do anything for him. Finally he called in some backup (Dr. Long).
Dr. Long came in and took over imeadiatly, told me I should go to the waiting room so he could do his job. After a little while my son was sewed up, and we could go home. We had a few follow up visits with him, and I am proud of the service he did for us. Even though it was out of his field.

I agree 100% Dr. Allen Long is one a kind.He has done all five of my kids surgeries,BMT(tubes) and Tonsilectomy.He is first class in my book.

quote:

Originally posted by pain&panicsmom:
zann - TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON DR. HOLLIS. Q-U-A-C-K-!!! He did the same thing with my great g'ma. She had a "sore" on her leg, he kept doctoring it with "salve" telling her that it was getting better when indeed it was CANCER & his "lotion" was doing nothing for it.

LOL, I think there are a few QUACK QUACKS around here!!! Pediatrician's KNOW they can play to the family's feelings and some play THAT to the hilt!!!

Dr. Allen Long is absolutely the BEST doctor in his field that this area has. We are very lucky to have him!!!! I have been a patient of his for years, (allergies) And he has put tubes in one of my grandkids ears. HE IS TOPS!!!

But he isn't a pediatrician He takes children by referral by pediatricians.

I agree with all your thoughts on Dr. Hollis. I have a personal story to go along with them. My husband had severe headaches in 2002, went to him two days in a row. Dr. Hollis told him it was nothing more than a sinus infection...BOTH DAYS! Later on that night, once his fever got up to 105 degrees and his head was about to explode, he was rushed by ambulance to ECM, where he was diagnosed with Spinal Meningites (?). He spent 10 days in the hospital and was told he was very close to death at the point he arrived in the ER. Thanks Dr. Hollis, you almost killed my husband.

quote:

Originally posted by Mommyofthree:
I use Dr. Crenshaw and Dr. Hamilton at Infants and Children's Clinic in Florence. They are both excellent doctors that I trust completely, and I especially love Dr. Crenshaw's sweet personality.

I like both of them too. Only problem is getting into see them at short notice.

You can usually see whomever you wish at Infants and Childrens if you schedule with them when they are in the clinic, either the sick child or the well child. However, if you call in with an urgent need or emergency, you are usually seen by whomever is first available to see them. These folks have a huge practice and cannot all be at the same place at the same time. I am sure it is the same with Shoals Peds. One of the good benefits of this type of practice scheduling technique is that there is always someone who is available to see your child on pretty short notice if the need arises they should have to come in quickly rather than schedule a normal appt.

Overall, both places have good docs who practice good medicine.

Shoals Pediatrics is the way I would go. Dr. Hammond is stif with the kids, but has a reputation of being the best diagnostician. As we have moved out of the area does Shoals Pediatrics still have weekend emergency hours? Thanks all.

quote:

Originally posted by pain&panicsmom:
ITS ALL ME - there is a Dr. Melvin over @ by Keller. My sister uses him for her 4 yr old., & he is very good, not sure that it is the same one though.

I would not recommend Dr. Hammond @ shoals peds. It is my own personal opinion, yes I have dealt with him on SEVERAL, SEVERAL occasions. We have a 18 yr old & 5yr old twins. & none of them will see Dr. Hammond unless it is an absolute emergency. He is a good doctor, But not very personalable at all & NO BED SIDE MANNER.

Again, my own personal opinion, so you Dr. Hammond Lovers - dont start bashing me. I just think he should be a grown up dr. instead of a pediatrician.

More than likely he is the same one. My husband had him as a ped. when he was small. We now have a 4 yr old and a 20 month old and they both go to his office, but they usually see Dr. Holly Johnson!! She is great! She has young kids so she can relate to most of your questions!

You know, I've always heard that about Dr. Hammond. But, both my kids really liked him. But then, we're 'just get to the point' people; that may be why. I'd recommend him as well.

I have a 10 year old and a 4 yr old as well. We love Dr. Moore, Dr. Carter and Dr. Freeman. Shoals Pediatrics is the way to go in this area in my opinion. When my oldest was first born I had him with Infants and Children so the physician that did his circumsion was from that same clinic. Now, before all you Crenshaw lovers starting bashing me- hear me out on this story. Dr. Crenshaw used the plastibell and before we left ECM I pointed several times to both Nurses and doctors that it looked like it had been put on crooked. I continued to call after I left the hospital and was told I just a nervous new mother. Finally after several upsetting calls they said to bring him in. Dr. Eich was the one to see him. He told us that it had slid backwards and would need to be cut off. When he clipped the ring all the skin disappered with it. There was my 10 day old son laying screaming and writhing in pain and Dr. Eich is freaking out. He sends us immediately to Dr. Sago who in turn tells he can't fix it that we will need a plastic surgeon. So, he sends us to Dr. Northington- who has never done any skin grafts on an infant this size but whose reply to my questions was "Look I have reattached a grown man's severed p**is I can handle this." Thank God for Friends and prayers because a day before his surgery someone recommended Dr. Joseph in Birmingham at the Children's Hospital. We emailed and he saw us the next day--He essentially told me that if we had gone through with that surgery it would have disfigured our son for life. He is fine now thanks to Dr. Joseph. I blame the quacks at Infants and Childrens in Florence and their fear for being unable to think clearly enough to get us to Birmingham. If not for a family friend, we would have a child that would be facing only God knows what for the rest of his life. So,NO I don't recommend Crenshaw or Eich for anything more than maybe a dog that has already been pronounced dead on the side of the road. Sorry if that sounds harsh but I am crying again as I write this story it still hurts me to think of my son hurting and screaming. Never be afraid to question your doctor and his recommendations.

MBCRC, yes; Shoals Peds does see patients on the weekends during the early hours of the day.

hmmm I havent heard anyone mention Dr Rivas , wonder why? is he not good

My nephew goes to Dr. Revis, and my sister-in-law thinks he is okay. (just okay,not great or anything) I went to Dr Judy Moore up until I was 19 (I'm asahmed!), and only then transferred to her husband Ed. I would recommend her!