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I haven't had a primary care doctor since I relocated almost 5 years ago now. I've made some attempts on and off to find one, but every time I try, I get just get discouraged.
I asked some acquaintainces for recommendations; turns out the doctors either aren't taking new patients, or they were already fully booked for months, or the office person offered to put me on a wait list and never got back to me. Likewise when I tried using online provider directories.
A few years ago I was having some nagging GI problems due to past cancer treatments, and tried again to find a general adult internal medicine doctor. Same runaround. I made the mistake of mentioning my history of cancer when I tried to get an appointment at one of the larger group practices in town, and I was told "we're primary care doctors, not cancer doctors" and they refused to help me at all, even when I tried to make it clear that I no longer had cancer. I eventually ended up having to go to the ER and was referred to a GI specialist, but I still have no primary care doctor. The nurse practictioner at the GI clinic recently gave me a recommendation for a doctor who she assured me was taking new patients, but when I called I was again told he had no appointments available and the best they could do was put me on a waiting list. That was over a month ago now, and I am wondering what good it would possibly do me to have a primary care doctor who I can't get an appointment with for months anyway.
Is this *normal*? How do other people find a doctor? Do you call every doctor in town until you find one who has an opening in his/her schedule? Do you keep nagging back at the same one over and over again to see if they've had any cancellations? Do you just give up and go to an urgent care clinic or ER? It seems crazy that my cats have better access to health care than I do (the vets keep evening and weekend office hours, too, unlike human doctors).
BTW, before I relocated and during my previous cancer treatments, I had a primary care doctor who was on staff at my former employer's HMO. Now I have PPO insurance coverage.
Location: Los Angeles>Little Rock>Houston>Little Rock
6,489 posts, read 8,808,426 times
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Most of the hospitals in my area have a 'find a doctor' link on their website. Have you tried that? Maybe try your insurance company's site? I relocated here a year ago and found mine from a recommendation but I had to wait almost 6 months for an appointment.
There is a enormous shortage of MD's nationwide and it is getting worse. There are more Physician Assistants out there than ever and and the number is increasing. Many people will end up going to see a doctor and will see only a Physician Assistant that works for the doctor. The doctor supervises the PA and reviews everything. This has happened to me a few times. Can't get in to see the doctor, but can get in to see the PA. This arrangement may work for you. The Physician Assistant can prescribe, etc. I have found the PAs to be very knowledgeable and capable.
Another option is to use and urgent care center or a minor medical center where they take walk ins. Not sure where you live, but you might be able to access a Federally Qualified Health Center that has a staff of doctors. They are less likely to turn people away. They provide a lot of primary care services and are very capable.
Look at their training. Did they go to a US medical school? Where did they do internship and residency? Any fellowships? Member of professional orgs? Board certified? That last one is must-have. Then research where they went to see what the reputation is.
Most of the hospitals in my area have a 'find a doctor' link on their website. Have you tried that? Maybe try your insurance company's site? I relocated here a year ago and found mine from a recommendation but I had to wait almost 6 months for an appointment.
I did previously try my insurance company's provider directory, but I didn't have any luck there.... at least one of the doctors who had been listed as taking new patients really wasn't, or else they were fully booked, were putting new patients on a waiting list, etc. Perhaps if I'd had the patience to go through the whole list I might have found somebody, but I got very discouraged after making half a dozen calls or so without being able to get an appointment with anybody. I'd be less frustrated if they could give me an actual appointment date even if it is N months in the future, than just putting me off.
Was the 6-month wait you had to get an appointment only for the first time, or is that typical nowadays for an established patient, too?
Totally agree with your assessment and experiences... been there, done that. The few primary care docs here who were taking new patients were so awful the 1st time I saw them that I declined to go back. I honestly have considered relocating from here due to the lack of good medical care, but from what I read, it is getting bad most everywhere... Sorry I do not have any answers for you, but I can relate to your frustration if that is any consolation.
Location: Los Angeles>Little Rock>Houston>Little Rock
6,489 posts, read 8,808,426 times
Reputation: 17514
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr.frog
I did previously try my insurance company's provider directory, but I didn't have any luck there.... at least one of the doctors who had been listed as taking new patients really wasn't, or else they were fully booked, were putting new patients on a waiting list, etc. Perhaps if I'd had the patience to go through the whole list I might have found somebody, but I got very discouraged after making half a dozen calls or so without being able to get an appointment with anybody. I'd be less frustrated if they could give me an actual appointment date even if it is N months in the future, than just putting me off.
Was the 6-month wait you had to get an appointment only for the first time, or is that typical nowadays for an established patient, too?
It was just for my first visit as a new patient. I don't have any issues getting in now.
Do you have a School of Medicine close to your area?
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I have given up
