Best Hospitals

[Momto2girls]

Ok, I was looking at the US News Best Hospitals list , and yes of course CHOP and Boston and Cincy are all way up there. But Mayo is like #44 -- and Children's Mercy in KC is #48 and they are awful! Soo, I am wondering about #16 which is Children's in Dallas. Are they pretty good? We have tons of family there and it would hardly be like being out of town for us?

 

[Emilie]

Both the major children's hospitals in my state are ranked higher than Mayo and without a doubt, they cannot even remotely match the quality and expertise available at Mayo. Here there is a more limited range of procedures and tests available, they see fewer cases per year, heck, they have a grand total of 3 doctors and none of them even specialize in the types of illnesses that are being tossed around for Ds. I can tell you that our local GI team, the one that US News ranked higher than Mayo, told us point blank that they were out of ideas, knew something was wrong, and that we needed to pursue a second opinion. They were thrilled we went to Mayo. Now, it may not turn out to be the best place for you, and Cincinnati is on my list as the next "go-to" if we hit a dead end at Mayo. Perhaps Dallas is an excellent choice, but I would not put much stock in those rankings. If nothing else, they do not reflect expertise in the area of Crohn's or diagnostics, just a general evaluation of all GI.

 

[my little penguin]

^^^ yeah that
Each program has strengths and weaknesses.
Which is why calling around is always helpful.
Our current hospital Gi is ranked really high as well but like above they were also happy when we got a second opinion at Cincy .

 

[Momto2girls]

So what about a second opinion when your doc doesn't think you have anyth

 

[Emilie]

That is a very difficult position to be in and I still say go for it. I was in that place when I was told by the only ped GI in my insurance group that Ds would "grow out of it" and that I could come back if he still had pain after 6 months. The irony of the fact that my son hadn't grown in over a year was apparently completely lost on him. I cried after that appointment because it seemed to obvious to me he was sick but here I was being told I was wrong. Its like someone telling me the sky is red.

That was over a year ago and he was so clearly wrong--based on the many giant red flags of poor health we had going on that I ignored him and moved on. I called and made an appointment with another GI team, locally first. I think it also helps that we do see and have seen so many other specialist doctors who all confirm that something isn't right so I have support for pursuing a diagnosis even though none of them seem to have any answers, yet.

ETA: If GI in your area is being a complete idiot, then how about a different specialty like endo for weight loss/growth, or rheum. for pain before committing to a big trip?

 

[LittlebitsMommy]

We go to Dallas Children's. We love it there and have an amazing GI there. He specializes in Crohns disease. And you can tell his passion is kids and this disease. Kota is a part of the Improve Care Now Program.

We were at Cook Children's and so glad that we got our second opinion at Dallas and now a patient of Dr P.

 

[Justin1982]

Cleveland Clinic, but don't know about pediatrics there. Saw every quack from here to kingdom come. Cleveland clinic was the first to give me a diagnosis of Crohns.

Only took 20 yrs and finally landing there to get help this past spring. Cu de gras? Dr I saw all these years (among the dozen or so others) told me after hearing Clevlands results. O id treat you same way too with those findings.

Gee thanks. Saw ya 10 yrs on and off, but heaven forbid your medical degree went. Towards good use.

So yes. Cleveland Clinic has my vote of confidence.

 

[superzeeman]

I went to Mayo Rochester Mn and found the place very capable and thorough. My surgeon was excellent and I would go to him again. My GI however, left me with less than a high level of confidence. He put me on Aza and I could not tolerate and he said there was nothing else he could put me on that works and ended up giving me Pentasa that had no relevance to what my issues were. I have since changed GI doctors