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I expect it's regional..but in a reasonably sized mid west capital city I waited several weeks just for the referral appointment at the gastroenterologist... and then had to wait a couple more weeks to schedule a procedure appointment 3 months out. That seems excessive to me, based on 10 years past experience in a different 'market'. What's typical?
It depends on whether you’re being referred for a concerning condition, or a routine colonoscopy. I hope that if you have an emergent condition, they get you right in.
I actually was just referred to a gastroenterologist, in Feb. just for a his opinion (I’m an existing patient), and they never called me. I had to call them. Then my appointment was set for several months away.
It depends on whether you’re being referred for a concerning condition, or a routine colonoscopy. I hope that if you have an emergent condition, they get you right in.
I actually was just referred to a gastroenterologist, in Feb. just for a his opinion (I’m an existing patient), and they never called me. I had to call them. Then my appointment was set for several months away.
Clearly not an emergency, but there are historical issues. I'm not really concerned, but surprised at the wait.
Our wait times for physician appointments and procedures like colonoscopies are heavily influenced by the sheer numbers of transplants info our state over the last couple of years and continuing to this day. They're all looking for primary care physicians and specialists and their numbers have tended to saturate the availability of many health care providers.
So these days we tend to wait, and wait for nonemergent healthcare provider services. Though in the event of an emergency type situation recognized by a PCP, for instances, it's still possible to jump the line and be seen in a timely manner.
For instance, last summer my PCP determined I needed endoscopies to find the source of bleeding that was putting me into a severe iron deficiency anemia. We chose a general surgeon who we both liked and who I had seen before. My PCP had her nurse call the office, and they made me an appointment for less than one week later. The endoscopies were scheduled within two weeks of my appointment, and when the colonoscopy showed a large cancerous mass in the colon I got the abdominal/ chest CT scans the same day as the colonoscopy, an appointment with the operative surgeon a week later and the colon resection surgery about two weeks after that.
All is good, I'm on a surveillance program with an oncologist and it's coming up to time for the 1 yr post surgery repeat colonoscopy and CT scans. No urgency this time around. So the surgeon who did last year's endoscopy sent me a letter on May 1 reminding me it was time for another colonoscopy and instructing me to call the office for a pre colonoscopy consultation visit. I called, got an appointment for mid-July, and commented about the wait time. The receptionist just responded with "well, everybody is moving here", and I knew what she meant, so I just agreed with her. I don't know how far out the colonoscopy will be scheduled at that visit, but I think it may well be 3 weeks or so ( not expecting 3 months).
The scans have yet to be ordered, but I'm told by the imaging center I use they can schedule those within a couple weeks after they get the orders, so there is time.
I got a letter a couple weeks ago saying to call and set up appt. because "we have a waiting list and it may be
some time before we can schedule".
I'm in no hurry. Lol.
I saw Gastro within 1 week, and endoscopy and colonoscopy were scheduled within two weeks
Live in Cincinnati
I'm guessing you don't have a massive migration of folks leaving other states to live in Ohio.
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