Are doctors and medical clinics become difficult to schedule appointments these days?

[LuvOrlando]

Yes, totally. I only see the person I consider "My Dr" if there is a sick visit and even then more often than not I find myself at Urgent Care.

About 10 years ago my General Practitioner's office started to offload me to their Network's Urgent Care for the entire family,I didn't like them at all. Over time I found an Urgent Care I liked with way better hours who kept most everyday medications like Ear Infection Antibiotics etc on hand.

Best guess is as insurance paid less and less the General Practitioner Dr's started to sort themselves into the better paying Urgent Care facilities and it now seems like this is the way things are now. If I need to see someone in particular I request Telemedicine, seems the Drs are far more accommodating this way.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It’s also getting harder to see the doctor and not the NP for specialties like neurologists. When they scheduled my next 6 month appointment it was scheduled for 9 months not 6.

 

[Silvermist999]

I’m seeing the opposite here, I had to reschedule some appointments and I was given alot of choices within a few weeks to a month away. This never happened before the pandemic. My ophthalmologist even called me up and wanted to see me as a “follow up”. I declined because I only see him annually, any more frequent than that and it’s wasting my time. I had an MRI done recently and normally I’m chasing the doctor down for results. This time they called me right away and wanted to see me two days after my MRI, only to tell me the results were fine. So I took a half day off just to go there for nothing. Normally they only see me if there are issues with the results. I was pretty anxious. Looks like business has slowed down.

 

[prairie_girl]

I’m looking for a new Dr. because my old one is on an indefinite sabbatical. It’s about a six week wait for my meet and greet appointment.

 

[mjkacmom]

As others have found, new patient visits are definitely longer to make than existing patients - even the call-in number for my specialists ask upfront to differentiate between new and existing patients - I think this trend is new’ish.

I am also seeing for my primary care appointments that I never see the actual Doctor but often a PA for a physical and basic blood work ups - however as an exiting patient - I never have to wait more than a week or so to book.

I suspect there is also a lot of regionality and urban versus rural in terms of what is available to schedule along with insurance choices which determine the network options

I don’t think this is new. When my kids were younger, I’d make appointments with a dermatologist for rashes due to eczema to get steroid cream so that they wouldn’t be new patients in the future. My adult son got in right away with something that needed to be seen quickly because he had a mole removed 10 years earlier.

 

[mjkacmom]

I’m seeing the opposite here, I had to reschedule some appointments and I was given alot of choices within a few weeks to a month away. This never happened before the pandemic. My ophthalmologist even called me up and wanted to see me as a “follow up”. I declined because I only see him annually, any more frequent than that and it’s wasting my time. I had an MRI done recently and normally I’m chasing the doctor down for results. This time they called me right away and wanted to see me two days after my MRI, only to tell me the results were fine. So I took a half day off just to go there for nothing. Normally they only see me if there are issues with the results. I was pretty anxious. Looks like business has slowed down.

My 20 year old son complained of a headache lasting 3 days, his PA sent in a script for a CT scan (he didn’t go). My daughter’s liver enzyme’s were off, they told her to come back for blood work 2 weeks later, after taking her blood they send her for an abdominal u/s that day (normal, she’s 22 and told them that the weekend before the first blood draw was a big party weekend, her second blood work was also fine)

 

[john7994]

I don’t think this is new. When my kids were younger, I’d make appointments with a dermatologist for rashes due to eczema to get steroid cream so that they wouldn’t be new patients in the future. My adult son got in right away with something that needed to be seen quickly because he had a mole removed 10 years earlier.

Could be the case - I was doctor’s visit adverse in the prior decades (I.e I had to be openly bleeding or worse) which likely led to a myriad of larger problems that now forces me to be more diligent about my overall health.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It’s also getting harder to see the doctor and not the NP for specialties like neurologists. When they scheduled my next 6 month appointment it was scheduled for 9 months not 6.

Yes. My son got back to back concussions in April and early May. Soonest he could get in to see neurologist, with referral, was September.

 

[rowan1813]

I just tried to get an appointment with my optometrist (part of a group so I could see anyone who works there) who I haven't seen in a year and am running out of contacts so they won't even order any for me because the prescription is over a year old. The earliest appointment they have is for the end of January and because I am a teacher and they don't do any appointments after my school gets out, I have to wait until Spring Break in March to get seen.

I had similar issues with my dentist in June. I tried to reschedule my appointment as I was going to be out of state and they had no appointments available until September and told me to call back later. I still haven't and am dreading what they will tell me this time around.

 

[easyas123]

This conversation got me thinking - I'm late for my annual physical and I did not schedule one like I though I had last year, so I called up the group practice I go to and lo & behold the NP I usually see, that I've been seeing for years now has left as of July. I really do wish they let patients know these things instead of it being a surprise when you call! Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised the new NP could get me in on Oct. 4th. I was thinking it was going to be after the first of the year.

 

[mjkacmom]

I just tried to get an appointment with my optometrist (part of a group so I could see anyone who works there) who I haven't seen in a year and am running out of contacts so they won't even order any for me because the prescription is over a year old. The earliest appointment they have is for the end of January and because I am a teacher and they don't do any appointments after my school gets out, I have to wait until Spring Break in March to get seen.

I had similar issues with my dentist in June. I tried to reschedule my appointment as I was going to be out of state and they had no appointments available until September and told me to call back later. I still haven't and am dreading what they will tell me this time around.

Our dentist office is wonderful, you schedule your next visit at your 6 month visit, but if you need to cancel, you get on a list if you want. This has worked out great for my college students who might be out of state for months, and my husband and 2 full time employed kids who tend to have to reschedule. She calls from her list and the first one who calls back gets the appointment

 

[tvguy]

For specialists, yes. I waited 6 months for a Dermatologist appointment. Took me 4 months to get in with a Kidney Doctor and a Cardiologist. No issues with my PCP. I am due for my annual physical and he had openings as soon as the next day.
It is an offshoot of how we pay Doctors. Everything is negotiated to the point that it barely covers the costs of providing service. I had an ablation done in June. The bill JUST for the ablation came to $198,000. Medicare paid $30,000, my Medicare supplement paid $1,600 because those are the contracted prices for that service. So a $198,000 bill is considered paid in full for $31,600.

 

[rowan1813]

Our dentist office is wonderful, you schedule your next visit at your 6 month visit, but if you need to cancel, you get on a list if you want. This has worked out great for my college students who might be out of state for months, and my husband and 2 full time employed kids who tend to have to reschedule. She calls from her list and the first one who calls back gets the appointment

That's usually what happens at my dentist too. The hygienist schedules your next appointment while you are there. Unfortunately I didn't realize I was going to be out of state when I scheduled it and when I did call, the lady who does schedule changes must have been in a bad mood (she kind of has a reputation) and didn't even try to reschedule me for when I could come in. I'm going to try and call today.

 

[TwoMisfits]

For specialists, yes. I waited 6 months for a Dermatologist appointment. Took me 4 months to get in with a Kidney Doctor and a Cardiologist. No issues with my PCP. I am due for my annual physical and he had openings as soon as the next day.
It is an offshoot of how we pay Doctors. Everything is negotiated to the point that it barely covers the costs of providing service. I had an ablation done in June. The bill JUST for the ablation came to $198,000. Medicare paid $30,000, my Medicare supplement paid $1,600 because those are the contracted prices for that service. So a $198,000 bill is considered paid in full for $31,600.

It's been known for years that private insurance (and charity) carries both the under-reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the non-paying patients for hospitals and other healthcare centers. If everyone were to get only government paid medical care, it would have to decrease the care or wildly increase the cost to match what the actual medical costs are for these places.

 

[amcnj]

I have only noticed issues when trying to schedule with someone new. That can take months. I usually schedule my next appointment before I leave the office, but have had to later change some dates and haven’t had difficulty doing so thus far.

 

[Meriweather]

I schedule my annual dermatologist when I leave....so a year ahead.
My DH goes very 6 months. He forgot to make his next one, called about 3 months later and got one at the 3 month mark he wanted.
My daughter called to make her yearly one and got in that week.
There are only 2 PAs there

 

[focusondisney]

That's usually what happens at my dentist too. The hygienist schedules your next appointment while you are there. Unfortunately I didn't realize I was going to be out of state when I scheduled it and when I did call, the lady who does schedule changes must have been in a bad mood (she kind of has a reputation) and didn't even try to reschedule me for when I could come in. I'm going to try and call today.

Must be something about dental receptionists, lol. The dentist we have seen for 35 years retired & sold his practice at the beginning of the year. The hygienists & receptionist stayed on, they’re all great & have known us forever. The new dentists do have another site with a full staff too. I had to change my 6 month appointment in May because my husband was in the hospital with an unplanned surgery. It was rescheduled to July. I tested + for Covid the day before & called to reschedule. The regular receptionist who knows me wasn’t there & the receptionist from the other site answered. She seemed put off when I explained I had Covid & needed to reschedule. She asked, “so you want to cancel?” Well, yes, I’d prefer not to give the hygienist that I really like who has 3 young kids Covid. My rescheduled appointment is Monday. I hope I like the new dentist & the normal staff is there.

 

[disneychrista]

Depends on the practice.

I was about to get an annual physical appointment the week after I called. I couldn't get into my (new) Woman's Health center for 6 weeks. When I called to make an appointment for a check at the dermatologist they were scheduling 3 months out.

 

[focusondisney]

I have heard a lot of friends talk about needing to wait to get into specialists or having to call around to find primary care or specialists who are accepting new patients. My husband & I haven’t had too much trouble. Although I had a routine annual test 10 days ago. The results came back that I need further testing, but when I called to schedule that, the earliest appointment I could get was October 11th. I’ll be out of town, so the follow up tests won’t happen til the 18th.

NBC network news just had a story on the doctor shortage tonight. A big part of the problem is funding for medical school instructors & residency programs. This has been an issue in the nursing shortage too… admission numbers are limited due to not enough instructors.

 

[CdnCarrie]

When my uncle was talking to my aunt recently my uncle told her that he has been having trouble scheduling his doctor's appointments and when my uncle tries to make a doctor appointment they always tell him that they are VERY busy and be put on a waiting list and they are only open for serious emergencies like heart attacks accidents or if you're elderly and suffer a stroke or fall. And I want to know if this is a new fad with doctors offices and medical clinics now? Because it used to be that when you had an injury like a broken leg or arm or had the flu the medical clinics and doctors offices could see you right away if you were very ill. And not only has it affected doctors and medical clinics it also is hard to schedule dentist appointments too. Is this the new way that medical clinics and doctors offices are run now as well as dental offices too?

If you have a heart attack or a stroke you call 911 not your doctor’s office.

I book my appointment online and get in within couple weeks. But it’s nothing serious. If it was I’m sure I could get in quicker or go to a urgent care.