Darlisa Delacruz
Update: they’ve added a behavioral consultant to their practice, and she is wonderful and very helpful. Thank you Jennifer! I have been using this practice for 8 years. I struggle with change, and to be fair, they are very responsive with sick visits and knowledgeable about common childhood illnesses. That is the only reason I am giving them 2 stars instead of 1. That said, I would not recommend this practice if your child has any behavioral or developmental concerns. They do not seem to view the child as a whole. Appointments feel rushed and focused on getting through the checklist and writing notes, rather than listening to ongoing concerns. I have been raising concerns about my children’s behavior since they were about 2 years old, including lack of focus, hyperactivity, hitting, sleep issues and now anxiety. I have expressed this repeatedly, even through tears. I also brought a completed Vanderbilt questionnaire from a teacher, which Dr. O did not even review. You would never know any of this from reading their notes. Instead, there was more concern about whether my children eat cereal! so they get their nutrients, which felt dismissive given the issues I was bringing up. When I asked for a note because I suspect ADHD and needed documentation to access services, they refused. A pediatrician’s role should be to look at the whole child, not just isolated pieces. Their only solution was to send me a two-page list of referrals. Out of all those providers, only one answered the phone, and they required detailed pediatrician notes and a referral. They also had a six-month waitlist. I do not even know if my concerns were properly documented over the years. In the meantime, I was told I could either wait, pay $5,500 for a private evaluation, or keep trying other providers who are not accessible. All of this while my children continue to struggle. I understand the role of a psychologist, but in situations like this, you would expect the pediatrician to offer some guidance or support in the meantime. What makes this even more frustrating is that when I do manage to speak to other providers, I am repeatedly told that the pediatrician can start medication, write a letter to begin services, or provide documentation to support intervention. Yet my pediatrician would not do so. Overall, this is not the right practice if your child has behavioral or developmental challenges. There is little guidance, no practical advice, and no sense of partnership. The focus seems to be limited to growth charts, rather than helping families navigate real concerns.