[cmsvmom]

A friend of mine whose mom retired to the Englewood area recently told me that it will be difficult for me to find a primary care physician when I move to the Panhandle area this spring/summer. She says that doctors are not taking new patients.

I am not on medicare yet. I am insured. She says this is a state wide problem.

Anyone finding that they can't get medical care when they move to Florida because the doctors are too crowded????

[deckardc]

I live on the panhandle in Fort Walton Beach. In the past I have lived in Panama City Beach and Navarre and I have never had trouble finding a doctor or getting an appointment for anyone in my family, new patient or not. In fact, we can usually get an appointment within 2 days of our phone call, same day if someone is sick. The panhandle of FL is not heavily populated but there are quite a few physicians in this area as well as some of the top rated hospitals in the country (Baptist and Sacred Heart).

It may be more of a problem in the Englewood area but it's not a problem up here. I wouldn't worry about it too much, I don't think you will have any problem finding a Dr. here.

[cmsvmom]

That is what I thought, and it is good to know.

I figured with the quality of hospitals there, it wouldn't do to be turning away "customers". And although I keep saying "panhandle" everyone assumes I mean something further south and more crowded.

[Michgoner]

We moved to the Englewood , North port area about 5 years ago . Never ever had a problem finding a primary care Dr. They run advertisments in the newspapers often , for accepting new patiants .

[Mavoufl]

The problem isn't finding a doctor - the problem is finding an appointment for "ordinary care" during the season. Just north of us (Englewood) in Venice and Sarasota there are excellent medical facilities.

[cmsvmom]

What my friend told me is that there are so many retirees and aging baby boomers moving down that doctors are not taking new patients. Not a seasonal thing.

I thought this was a bit of an overreaction. So far what you are telling me is that I should be able to find a primary care physician in North Florida. THis is what I expected to hear, but it is nice to know there is no "crisis" in this regard - there are so many other crises!!!