In January I needed to see a neurosurgeon. Just ten months earlier I had surgery done by an excellent local surgeon. But even though I had just been his patient, I was told that since my problem was with a different part of my spine, I couldn't be seen by him for four months. And I guess I was fortunate to even get an appointment at all.
Following up on a call from my eye doctor telling me that I was overdue for my annual diabetic eye exam, I called back to set up the appointment. Wait time for an appointment? Two months.
Several days ago my wife called to get a refill on a blood pressure medicine. We were surprised when the doctor's office called back and said that she was required now to have a six-month med checkup before they could authorize more refills. When she replied that she had been to see her family doctor just a week earlier, she was told that this visit didn't count because it was for a different problem. They could give her the newly required med appointment in three weeks.
My wife had also been told that on June 1 she was to call and schedule a dexa scan. On June 1 she made the call and the first appointment she could be given was the middle of July. The same day she also followed up on a message from her pacemaker doctor that in June she was to call to set up an August appointment. When she followed through, also on June 1, she was told that the doctor had no available appointments left for August and that she should call back the end of the month to see if she could get one for September.
Next on the list that day was a follow-up to a message that in June she was to call to set up her annual colonoscopy for August. When she called she was told that because she would be 75, she had to first have an appointment with her doctor. Even though she had just seen him two months previously when her told her to set it up in June, they now said that she had to meet with him again before it could be scheduled. An appointment was made for August. And, they couldn't yet give her a date for her 12th annual test. (Note - since this blog was written she now has a date - the end of September.)
Now in all fairness, we are generally able to get an appointment the same day that we call at our family medical practice, if we make it sound like we really need to be seen that day. But it won't always be with our doctor. But if we don't need to be seen that day, it could be two or three weeks until our family doctor has an "available slot".
And, with today's modern technology and portals, we are finding that doctors who we see regularly have become more willing to respond to messages which we leave for them on their portal. This is a great new feature, but I assume the time is coming soon when there will be a charge for this convenient service.
But what "blows my mind" is the fact that if there really is a growing shortage of physicians, which will get worse since so many are reaching retirement age, how can health organizations such as Lancaster General Health keep merging, expanding and opening up new offices. Obviously there is much money to be made in this business, but will these new facilities be able to be staffed properly in the future? Will our access to needed medical care really be improved? Let's hope so ... but I guess time will tell.
In the meantime, don't delay in making necessary appointments. If you want to see the best doctors, the process could be frustrating. Of course, then they could also treat you for anxiety.
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