Re: Dr. Durkin in Hawaii?

February 20, 2006

So, have you been assured that they'll give you a referral off base when they

send you to HA? Or will you have to see DR Burkhalter first? Dr Ponseti seemed

to have quite a bit of faith in him when we were in your position. Of course, I

chose to come back stateside rather than keep waiting on the the military to get

their crap together. It took 6 weeks to get them to arrange travel to HA. If I

were you, I'd try to get reservations at the Fisher house on TRipler ASAP. It's

only 10 dollars a week , I think. Guam also has services transportation services

for you when you get there for grocery shopping... downtown shopping etc... Ask

your aerovac office for their card/info. They can arrange to have you picked up

from the airport and taken to your hotel (or the Fisher house). They Will also

take to to/from your appts where ever they be. Don't forget, they're going to

want to cast your baby right away at Guam Naval Hospital. Don't let them. Just

enjoy your baby's castless legs and get in

some quality cuddle time before you get to HA. Also expect that they will want

to do a full skeletal survey... This sucks, but it's helpful later. Also, you'll

want to enroll in the EFMP (exceptional family member program) ASAP. They will

have you reassigned in an area that has facilities to treat your baby... this

may mean you get to be reassigned to HA, if that's appealing to you at all. We

would have loved to be stationed there! Anyway, again, my number is

. If you run into any trouble or have any questions give me a call.

Who's your OB, by the way?

Faith

okdoake wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I posted awhile back from Guam. I'm making progress in getting

away from using Military Drs.!

Has anyone ever been to Dr. Durkin in Honolulu? I got his name

from Dr. Ponsetti's website. I'm hoping to be able to take my son to

him soon after birth. I just want to make sure he's a good Dr. and

uses the Ponsetti method and no variations!

I must contact him soon and I want to know what I'm letting myself

in for

Thanks

Gretchen

February 20, 2006

Remember too, that you are entitled to as many second opinions as you want...

this means if you are unsatisfied with Burkhalter, Durkin...and whoever else,

they have to send you to California. Once there you can see the Ponseti docs

there...The problem is all the waiting you'll have to do to to get there. They

don't realize it's time sensitive and will try to blow you off.

okdoake wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I posted awhile back from Guam. I'm making progress in getting

away from using Military Drs.!

Has anyone ever been to Dr. Durkin in Honolulu? I got his name

from Dr. Ponsetti's website. I'm hoping to be able to take my son to

him soon after birth. I just want to make sure he's a good Dr. and

uses the Ponsetti method and no variations!

I must contact him soon and I want to know what I'm letting myself

in for

Thanks

Gretchen

February 20, 2006

Hi Faith,

Thanks again for the advice! I'm working with Tricare to get a

direct referal to Dr. Durkin. I'm getting in contact with him today

to find out how closely he follows Dr P's method. I'm working hard

to get everything arranged now so we won't have to wait long before

we go. I want to be able to fly as soon as the baby and I are

cleared to go! I told the folks at the Tricare office that under no

circumstances did I want to go to Dr. Burkhalter and explained why,

my OB is behind me on this too. They told me that I didn't have to

go to him if I didn't want to and so I'm working thorough Peds to

get to Dr. Durkin or another Dr.

I haven't heard of the EFMP so I'm glad you told me about it. If

we could get into that I would definately try to get back

stateside. Sure would be nice to be closer to home when we retire

in 9 months!

You've been a big help Faith, thank you!

Gretchen

> Hi Everyone,

> I posted awhile back from Guam. I'm making progress in

getting

> away from using Military Drs.!

> Has anyone ever been to Dr. Durkin in Honolulu? I got his name

> from Dr. Ponsetti's website. I'm hoping to be able to take my son

to

> him soon after birth. I just want to make sure he's a good Dr.

and

> uses the Ponsetti method and no variations!

> I must contact him soon and I want to know what I'm letting

myself

> in for

>

> Thanks

> Gretchen

>

February 20, 2006

WoW! 9 months! That's great! We have a little more than 5 years left. Congrats!

And good luck getting everything set up quickly! Do you know if Nazareth or

Jaghoe is still in OB there? If Sullivan is still in PEDS, he was really good

at getting things set up fairly quickly, and was good at follow ups too to see

how everything was going. Anyway, glad to be so some help:) Let us know how it

goes.

Faith

PS You should contact your personnel office to find out who runs your EFMP

Program...just to get the paperwork started. You'll need a form letter from your

treating ortho/pediatrician to complete the process, but once it is approved

they can move you in sometimes less than 60 days. This may be a good thing

rather than being suck TDY at HA indefinitely.