Primary Pediatrics

Nothing else to add. Terrible! more

Dr. Steven Brown was a good doctor. So much so that we decided to stay with him even after we moved out of the Bowie/Laurel area. 20 miles each way to see him in the Laurel office, we have 3 sons. However, for the past 2 years, the service has been steadily declined. We usually have to wait 1 hour to get check into the room, then wait for another hour to see him. they never return my calls. Recently, my son had a five years old well child care visit. they charged $80 for a vision screening that was free prior (for my 2 older boys). they told me that was a new and better screening procedure (they didn't tell me my insurance will not cover it). the screening result was inconclusive, I had to spend more time and money to take my son to see a specialist. There was no issue with my son's eyes. I feel I should not be responsible for the $80 because I was not given an option to decline. I call the business manager, Patti, many times. No return of phone calls. I wrote to Dr. Brown, no reply either. At this point, they reached rock bottom in my book. I decided to take my sons elsewhere. more

I have two children and they both see Dr. Bland. He is a great doctor, very attentive, answers all your concerns, and is informed. However, I can't take the wait and the constant confusion of appointment times. Twice I have received a bill saying I missed an appointment when I never even scheduled it for that particular time. I had to switch to a different location where the wait time is much better and I still get to see Dr. Bland. If this were not the case, I would have taken the loss and switched to a new doctor. They need to get it together at the Laurel office because they will lose patients over parents losing their patience. more

Took in my child with high fever and stomach ache complains. Waited for 40 mins, child got sicker threw up all over me and still had to wait for 20 mins. more

Good: The Pediatricians are good. Bad: Service, WAIT TIME. Improvements: Doesn't matter, I'm not returning!!!!. Other: WILL BE FINDING A NEW DOCTOR FOR MY CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!! Plain and simple!! NO ONE should have to wait 2 hours to see any doctor unless you are in an ER!!!!!!!!!! It is ridiculous to expect CHILDREN to wait even 1 hour!!! I have had it the doctors are good but they're not worth the wait!!!!. more

I decided to go with Primary Pediatrics 6 years ago when a doctor from the practice released my daughter from the hospital when she was born. What a terrible decision that was. Over the last 6 years, I've taken my daughter to Primary Pediatrics for sick appointments, well appointments, booster shots and physicals. I can't even estimate the amount of time that I've wasted sitting in the waiting room and exam room. You sign in, the woman at the counter takes your copay and then the waiting begins. I'm not talking about a reasonable 20 minute wait during busy times. I'm talking as much as 2 hours spent in the waiting room. When the nurse finally calls your name, you're taken back to the exam room where you're forced to wait for another hour (not kidding or exaggerating) for the doctor. THREE TIMES over the last 6 years we were forgotten in the exam room. I will never forget running down the hall, chasing a diaper-wearing, screeching, bored toddler who had simply lost it during the endless wait. Each of those times, after waiting for an hour, I went into the hall and asked a passing nurse when we'd be seen. I went to the reception desk to inquire as well. Each time I was told that "the doctor will be in soon." And each time, it turned out that our chart had been "misplaced" and we weren't on any doctor's schedule. Very little in the way of an apology was offered during those times. I tried for a long time to forgive and forget, thinking that I'd just shown up on bad days. Then it occurred to me that I really didn't have to take that anymore. We left the practice a couple of months ago to go to Dr. Seth Eaton's office (also in Laurel) and we couldn't be happier. Hopefully, I'll never again have to block off an entire afternoon to take my daughter to the pediatrician for a simple check-up. By the way, when we transferred and asked for copies of her medical records to be sent to the new office, they lost them and still charged me for them! All I could do was laugh at that point. I'll gladly eat the $15 cost to get the hell away from Primary Pediatrics. Good luck, moms and dads. more

Dr Gadsby was great, the few times we were able to see her. Our experience with sick visits was that we'd wait an hour to see a nurse practitioner who tended not to listen and would never prescribe antibiotics (limiting antibiotics is generally a good thing but not when your son has a blood infection that goes undiagnosed for four visits - the doc at our new practice hospitalized him immediately). Overall I'd say the staff is rushed and this can lead to errors. more

We have been using Primary Ped's for over 10 years. I know that at times I have waited. But when my girls have really needed something, say time to take out 7 stiches from the cheek or antibiotics for Lyme disease, the staff has been there. Always. I can always count on Dr. Gadsby, to listen and understand where I'm coming from. My 22 year old still wishes she could go there. more

I loved my son's first pediatrician, but she left the business because she could no longer work under the conditions set by the insurance companies. When she left, she recommended Primary Pediatricians. I missed the personal relationship and the feeling of my son being "known" by his doctor. However, I have always gotten an appointment when I called. I have had to wait at times, but usually that is because they squeezed my son into an already full schedule. Their advice has been reasonable and the doctors have answered my questions. I like that they have separate waiting areas for well and sick children. And they do answer their "call a nurse" line. Primary Pediatrics is not as good as our first pediatrician, but she was a hard act to follow and they have always treated me and my son well. more

My son's pediatrician is Dr. Bland who is now with Primary Pediatricians. I chose Dr. Bland because he was my pediatrician when I was a child. On our first newborn visit to Dr. Bland in the Silver Spring office, I found so many people that I knew in the community that were also going to see Dr. Bland. We have also unfortunately had to go to the emergency room on a couple of occassions since my son has been born. When we were there, I couldnt count the number of times that Dr. Bland's name was called. He cares for so many of the children in the metro area. I have experienced nothing but quality and efficient care from primary pediatrics. I have since referred at least two other families to Dr. Bland as well, and have heard no complaints so far. Whenever my son needs to be seen for an immediate concern, primary pediatrics have been able to see him right away...even on sundays! This office has regular business hours as well as after hours. If you call to the office outside of business hours and leave a message, a doctor will be sure to get back with you. We have also seen other doctors in the practice when we have gone in for after hours clinic. These doctors are also very caring, compassionate and competent. I highly recommend primary pediatrics for your child's pediatric care. Even more so I recommend Dr. Bland. He was a great pediatrician for me, and is great with my son as well. more

My son was a patient of Primary Pediatrics for the first 3.5 years of his life. I chose PP because my teenage sister was a patient there, the neighbors kids went there, everyone went there. That's where the problems started, since EVERYONE goes there, it's almost impossible to get in for an appointment, be seen without waiting for way too long, and then getting the quality you deserve (especially after waiting!) While most of the doctor's in the practice can give an accurate diagnosis, sadly, due to HMO's you ae rushed through, sort of like cattle. Maybe shop around for a less busy doctor for your kids? more