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Just got off the phone with UNMH, actually spoke with a DR. that gave me a quick run down of what is happening right now in New Mexico with regard to finding a DR. and he was very honest about what is going on.
1. If you need a specialist right away many are going to Denver
2. If you need a GP, good luck. The good ones are not taking new patients. According to him, many are moving (or have moved from NM)
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
Just got off the phone with UNMH, actually spoke with a DR. that gave me a quick run down of what is happening right now in New Mexico with regard to finding a DR. and he was very honest about what is going on.
1. If you need a specialist right away many are going to Denver
2. If you need a GP, good luck. The good ones are not taking new patients. According to him, many are moving (or have moved from NM)
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
UNM has an excellent primary care training facility. The problem is there is a severe shortage for general practitioners across the country - more so in some places than others.
Alternatives include the NP and PA. Why not try an NP at a retail clinic for simple needs and go from there? They can do basic medical services. Their roles are mean to reduce the workload burden on the healthcare system. They are badly needed and meant serve new patients when a general practitioner cannot be found.
Don't expect it to get any better. The physician shortage is real. Most medical students avoid primary care residency slots, and the training can 8 or 9 years (or more in some cases) total with medical school and residency. This means if this year's graduating class surprisingly had 13% more students go into a primary care residency slot, then that student may not be available until 2022 or so.
I've had no trouble finding a GP/primary care doc, or switching to a new GP. I haven't heard of a shortage. Maybe the person you spoke to had in mind the rural areas? IDK.
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
No.
My wife and I have had no problems with "necessary labs, etc." in the ABQ area over the past 15+ years...
My wife just went to Urgent Care last Saturday, saw a doctor and had a prescription written. There was a snag, the Pharmacy was closed on Moday (Memorial Day), there was another Pharmacy we could have gone to if we knew the situation in advance...
There have been some snags over the years, but that is possible everywhere.
Just got off the phone with UNMH, actually spoke with a DR. that gave me a quick run down of what is happening right now in New Mexico with regard to finding a DR. and he was very honest about what is going on.
1. If you need a specialist right away many are going to Denver
2. If you need a GP, good luck. The good ones are not taking new patients. According to him, many are moving (or have moved from NM)
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
YES! This has been the single most frustrating part of being a new resident to ABQ. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield through my employer (Albuquerque Public Schools and pay a high premium every month compared to other states I have worked) and I called no less than 20 places to find a GP that was taking new patients. I finally landed on a NP for my primary, but still had to wait 2 months to get in to her! I waited 6 months for a dermatologist appt, only to have that practice dropped from my plan at the first of the year and then had to start over...I will finally see that specialist in October, a full 11 months after first trying to get in.
If I had know the shortage of doctors and the limited coverage in ABQ with the public school plan, I would not have moved here. If you have plenty of money to pay out of pocket or no health issues, ABQ is a great city but I have been discouraged by the health care here.
Just got off the phone with UNMH, actually spoke with a DR. that gave me a quick run down of what is happening right now in New Mexico with regard to finding a DR. and he was very honest about what is going on.
1. If you need a specialist right away many are going to Denver
2. If you need a GP, good luck. The good ones are not taking new patients. According to him, many are moving (or have moved from NM)
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
NM has one GP/FP for every 1000-1100 residents. I called for my first appointment with a UNMH Clinic FP in October 2016. My appointment was set for July 11, 2107. I just got a call last week -- my appointment had been kicked into mid-August. My FP is busy in July. Sigh.
My wife and I have not had any problem finding GP/primary care docs in the Presbyterian system. We did lose one who moved out of state and had to wait 3 months until the beginning of the next year, when according to Pres the patient rolls change quite a bit (due to people gaining and losing insurance coverage).
My wife and I have not had any problem finding GP/primary care docs in the Presbyterian system. We did lose one who moved out of state and had to wait 3 months until the beginning of the next year, when according to Pres the patient rolls change quite a bit (due to people gaining and losing insurance coverage).
I have BCBS insurance and have been reasonably happy with ABQ Health Partners/DaVita. No real trouble finding doctors, although getting an appointment with a specialist usually requires a long wait and I wouldn't recommend their urgent care services. As far as I know, though, Presbyterian is generally superior to DaVita and most other local providers. Smiling Salsera, Pres is covered by APS's insurance plan, isn't it?
I have some friends who haven't had any problems getting in to see GPs and specialists and others who have. I think it may have something to do with what insurance provider you have.
Just got off the phone with UNMH, actually spoke with a DR. that gave me a quick run down of what is happening right now in New Mexico with regard to finding a DR. and he was very honest about what is going on.
1. If you need a specialist right away many are going to Denver
2. If you need a GP, good luck. The good ones are not taking new patients. According to him, many are moving (or have moved from NM)
Moved here from WA and right now having to travel back to WA to do necessary labs, etc. Anyone having the same problem?
I will say, one of the negatives we found about living in NM was the lack of medical facilities. We lived south of ABQ. Yes we had PC doctors and specialists plus a few decent hospitals but the care, for a city that large still wasn't as good as in other places. I don't have any reason for this but in still was our experience.
Last edited by nmnita; 06-02-2017 at 02:35 PM..
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