Children’s Healthcare Associates

We have been going to Children’s Healthcare Associates since our first child was born over 5 years ago, with Dr. Necheles as our primary care provider. The office has been very responsive on urgent questions. They are quick to fax over records for school forms, and most of all we’ve been very happy with Dr. Necheles’ practical approach to medicine. In the rare circumstances he has been unavailable, we’ve been pleased with his colleagues as well. Valet parking is great and we have not had any trouble scheduling appointments — in fact, the staff has been quite patient with working around our schedules.

After several hospital visits, calls with the primary doctor, last minute visits and school form requests this CHA is top notch! We love Dr. Necheles as well as the other doctors including the front desk staff who remembers us when we arrive and makes us feel welcome. I highly recommend! We chose CHA for our 2 boys (been going since birth) based on referrals from 3 different friends and my OBGYN. Congrats new parents! You’ve made a great choice.

After 20yrs w/​our previous doc, she retired and now my youngest has to see someone new. We went to this office on a friend’s recommendation and I have to say, I have been pleased and thankful my wife and I found them. It’s nice to actually have options of docs and Nurse practitioners. Scheduling can be tough sometimes for routine stuff but they have always been able to accommodate us. We’ve been to this office 5 times since our Pediatrician retired and expect to have our youngest finish his run here since he still has quite a few years left before he moves up. I like that I can speak w/​a nurse before taking my kid in, it’s nice to talk to someone without making the trip and paying to have the Dr tell me the same thing the nurse could. Also, when my kid is really sick, I’ve been able to get a same day sick, from what I’ve heard from some friends, there are docs out there that try giving them appointments for next week when their kid is sick today. I still don’t get that concept.

The front desk staff here are simply awful. The worst. I say that as someone who works in service — never seen worse frankly.

Do NOT see Dr. Sterett. I repeat, do not see Sonia Sterett.

Let me start by stating that we have been very happy with all the doctors and nurses at this practice. Really happy. However, I just don’t understand how they can continue to allow the front desk, the first impression you get when you walk in the door and on the phone, to be rude, unfriendly and downright nasty. At a pediatricians office! When cute, adorable kids are walking in by the minute. No smiles. Just bad karma. Shame on them. And when you call to make an appointment you are made to feel that you are bothering them, how dare you call or worse, how dare you be picky about the when the appt. is scheduled! But again, we love the doctors so we endure… just like the rest of the patients… It’s time for the doctors to do something about the customer service!

We are on our third child during a 6 year span. Despite minor nuances occurring with administrative staff, we are exceptionally pleased with each and every experience. We’ve had consistent care among various practioners. Extenuating circumstances and urgent situations were accommodated with last minutes appointments expeditiously; especially if you are willing to see practitioners other than your PCP.
We’ve been blessed to be cared for by Dr. Chris Donohoe. Not only does he establish excellent ongoing rapport with parents, he knows navigates well different personalities of our children. His correspondence is prompt and he exceeds expectations on all levels. Our children are genuinely excited to see him. And, are disappointed when a sibling has an appointment in which they are not included.
We contemplated leaving the practice due to a move to the suburbs, however cannot fathom missing our interactions. We make a day of the hour commute and truly look forward to seeing Dr. Chris.
If you are contemplating this practice, please read the negative comments objectively and cross reference them with other posts from the negative posters. Generally those who post negative comments on the practice also make other negative subjective remarks elsewhere…
If you want excellent care from wonderful physicians, go here. Some of the negative experiences can be encountered anywhere you may go.

Dr. Lyons is awesome! I have been taking my son here since he was born and Dr. Lyons is very honest and patient! Love him! However, the staff does not match the doctors here. Rude and not the best customer service skills. Other than that the doctors are awesome!

We have been going here for a few months now, since our daughter was born. The doctor and nurse practitioner have been really good, but the customer service aspect is really lacking. Scheduling appointments is difficult, mostly because the people answering the phones are extremely rude and impatient. My husband and I have busy schedules so it often takes a bit of back and forth to find a time that works. On multiple occasions we have been met with rude, short and very unhelpful people.
But, doctor k is great with our daughter! They are close to the train, and have free valet parking. The nurse practitioner we saw was also amazing and helped calm a very anxious first time mom!

Not really respectful of time. Had us wait an hour for a scheduled appointment after asking us to come in early.

We have loved Dr Lyons — he’s been great for first time parents. Reception isn’t super friendly but I would rather have a great ped than a happy receptionist. Valet parking is a bonus too!

So far we have had a good experience here. We have met with both our dr and a np and both were fantastic, friendly and knowledgable. Both were warm and welcoming and have great advice on our newborn in addition to how to balance a newborn and your personal life. Being first time parents, this advice was definitely welcomed! The location is great as parking is free and the guys who park your car are always very attentive and nice. The elevator in the building is awful as it takes forever, is tiny and shakes the entire time you are in it. Definitely needs to be replaced. The only reason I am giving it ⁴⁄₅ stars is because the front desk is not consistently friendly. If they would smile once in awhile and actually seem like they somewhat enjoy their job, this would be a 5 star review!

We have been taking our son here since he was born over two years ago and have had wonderful experiences with our primary pediatrician Dr. Sonia Sterrett and the other physicians as needed for sick visits. At our last visit our son had a finger prick done for iron testing and the assistant was so fast he barely noticed! The hours are very convenient and we have had check-​up appointments as late as 6:45pm which is great for our busy schedule and to allow both of his parents to be at the visit. Dr. Sterrett answers every single one of our questions and we come in with a lot of questions both silly and serious. She has also been a great resource not only for when our son is sick but for other important things like sleeping through the night, pre-​school, and potty training. Overall, we have had a great experience with this practice.

I wanted to find a practice that was not downtown and one where I felt I would have a better chance of seeing the same Dr. again. My daughter is 5 months old now and has been seen by Donohoe (he was on call at NW when I delievered), Necheles (her primary) and their Nurse Practitioner Linda. ALL have been fantastic. Unfortunately Donohoe is not accepting new patients, but I’m fairly certain the others are. My little one has only been for routine appointments so far, but I’ve got nothing but praise for this practice. Other benefits — steps from the brown line and free parking!

Just moved to the area and a need new provider. Called to try to schedule new patient appointments for my girls. Requested a certain doctor because she was highly recommended. Front office informed me that next available appointment was over a month away. My daughter is due for shots soon so I asked if there was anything sooner and was given a «no» — no offer of seeing a different provider. No waitlist, simply a «it is what it is response.» Guess they don’t want my business. How disappointing since not one but two of my friends recommended this practice.

The billing department staff is absolutely wonderful. My insurance has been incredibly difficult to deal with this year — long story short their screw-​up resulted in my son’s latest immunization visit to not be covered and a huge $$$ bill to me. I tried calling my insurance, waiting on hold 3+hours SEVERAL times over the past few months but still was told there was nothing they could do. But no! Children’s called my insurance themselves and made it right! Forever great-​ful momma right here!!!

We chose this practice after several friends recommended Dr Monroe to us. She was not taking new patients, but she agreed to take us on anyhow.
We are so grateful to have her as our son’s primary pediatrician. She is amazingly gentle and thorough. He loves her.
Unfortunately, we’ve had the opportunity to meet too many of the other docs here thanks to a few in-​patient stays at Lurie. Most of them are also wonderful. Dr Lyons is not a favorite, but he was also kind. We just had to fill in information he missed on my son’s chart which I didn’t appreciate having to do.
Unlike another reviewer, I found the nurses and Dr Monroe to be very supportive of my extended BF relationship with my son. And Dr Monroe never once has shown any concern about his low weight and height percentiles. She always says he’s perfectly following his own curve. She’s a calming presence in every way.

All 3 of my kids go here. Our primary Pediatrician is Dr. Christopher Donohoe and he is AMAZING. Nicest, most down to earth guy around. He has a great connection with all the kids. They adore him and are not scared at all about going to their appointments b/​c of him. I am not sure he is taking new patients but I would try. I have had other Docs and they are all great at this practice. I really do not think you can go wrong with this practice. You are in great hands with anyone here.
Free parking too cannot be beat.

I really like the doctor’s at this practice. We have a primary one that we go to but the others we have seen have been really great as well. I chose this practice because I wanted great, experienced doctors and that is exactly what they are! This group came highly recommended by a colleague who is a neonatalogist and by a few friends who also go to this group. I am extremely picky about my doctors so if I like these doctors, I feel like that is worth 10 stars.
Our son had jaundice early on and they were great at determining and taking care of it before it progressed any further. We were able to get into appointments the day of (they always keep some set aside we were told in case of emergencies like ours) and we were promptly seen in the waiting room. Really that’s all I can ask for in a doctor for my baby.
I agree that the reception staff could be a LOT more friendly, but as others have mentioned, I would rather have awesome doctors than nice receptionists.

I agree with Colleen W. — would you rather have a kick-​ass pediatrician or a really nice receptionist?
The doctors here are some of the best in the city, so good that I heard this is where doctors take their kids. Dr. Nechelles is so good at what he does, has a great memory, and is very soothing and reassuring — not only for baby but for me too!
We had 3 impromptu appointments so far — one was with a nurse practitioner (Nurse Dana), and the other 2 with Dr. Monroe and Dr. Donohoe — all great experiences. Dr. Donohoe was actually the one doing the rounds at Prentiss when I gave birth, and his dance card is filled so it’s pretty hard to get him as your primary pediatrician. What a very nice man!
Other little things I love about this place:
–Free valet parking (don’t forget to tip of course!)
–Walgreens pharmacy already in the building on the same floor! And it’s the only place around that carries Sensi-Care…the best stuff to treat bad diaper rash.
Don’t hesitate, make this the place you bring your kid (s) to get the best medical care in the city!