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I apparently lucked out and have a great Doctor (PCP) that can usually see me within a day or two when I seek an appointment...sometimes same day if I try early enough. That is not the case with specialists. I have to wait maybe a month for a dermatologist and a couple weeks for my first visit to a orthopedic surgeon when I was having hip replacement. I waited a couple weeks for the heart specialist appointment but it was not an important or critical visit. My eye doctor take a while and the audiologist is pretty fast. My local friends tell me that my waits are very short and that they have to wait a couple weeks to see a PCP and months to see a specialist. One of the health networks here shut down their urgent care site. My daughter can't find a PCP taking new patients. I don't recall having this problem 30 years ago -- you got an appointment pretty quick. But -- I didn't need a doctor or a specialist much when I was 35-40 and my daughter, when young, could get in for kid stuff pretty easily. We lived in a small town of 40k population with three hospitals so maybe that had a bearing on it. Now our metro area is about 1 million.
Are your healthcare delays all that much worse now than when you were younger? Are you small town or big city?
Well I didn't use specialists when I was younger so who knows.
But same as you: if I'm sick I can generally get in with the PCP quickly.
Endoncrinologist - about a 2 month wait
Orthopedic practice - within a week unless I'm trying to get a high-demand doctor
Opthamologist - 3 month wait for a particular doctor, short wait for a new doctor in the practice
Dermatologist - 3 month wait for the doctor, one week wait to get in with the PAs.
Gastroentrologist - 3 months wait unless you're having an emergency
AN emergency is an emergency and usually we can get checked out rather quickly. My back was really sore and not getting better so I called my PCP and I was in to see him the next day. The prescribed PT was a different story when I called and there was a 1.5 month wait.
The same thing for a dentist this Spring. It wasn't an emergency just a routine checkup and cleaning at a new dentist and it was a 2 month wait.
I'm old enough to remember my small town Doctor making house calls. LOL
because of the pandemic, many people put off heath care and screenings. I read recently that cancer diagnoses were down significantly in 2020. fear of catching covid delayed people having cancer screenings and cancer diagnoses. the covid pandemic will kill many more people than those who died from the virus due to these delays.
specialists are overwhelmed with the recent increase in patient volume after people have been vaccinated and are venturing out more....including pet doctors and dentists.
because of the pandemic, many people put off heath care and screenings. I read recently that cancer diagnoses were down significantly in 2020. fear of catching covid delayed screenings and diagnoses. covid will kill many more than just those who died from the virus due to these delays.
It's more of a recent, past year or so thing.
I've just been through it during the process of back surgery.
Some appointments were so far off that I cancelled them when I found those that could get me in sooner (not my Spinal Surgeon but others).
It's more of a recent, past year or so thing.
I've just been through it during the process of back surgery.
Some appointments were so far off that I cancelled them when I found those that could get me in sooner (not my Spinal Surgeon but others).
No, it isn’t. Pre-covid was a couple month wait for specialist for myself.
My PCP went exclusively concierge membership four years ago so her service is fabulous. She is readily available via text, email for a quick question or refill and I can get in same day or, worst case by the next day. Most services are covered by my membership fee and she takes as long as is necessary during an appointment.
There was about a month wait to see my neurologist for a first visit for Trigeminal Neuralgia a decade ago but after I was an established patient I could usually be seen by the nurse practitioner same day for urgent symptoms.
Ophthalmologist emergency visits - they have usually worked me in same day or at least next day.
Thanks. I'm fine and feel better at 73 than I have for a while. This thread was triggered by a recent conversation I had with several people. I actually heard similar stories before the pandemic and my daughter's experience is apparently more common than I thought..
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