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Are PCP appointment delays nationwide?

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Posted 2/28/2023 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Over the last 18 months here in Central Florida, getting an appointment with my PCP and Specialist has been increasingly infuriating. 4 to 6 weeks wait time. I'm told if I can't wait, go to a walk in clinic or the ER. Is this a nationwide trend?
I'm relocating anyways, because hot flashes and Florida summers don't mix. So I'm searching for a new Med. Onco in cooler dry climate areas.
Keep fighting warriors, we got this.
Posted 2/28/2023 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I suppose that it depends on where you are. One of my running partners works in IT at out local hospital/clinic and she told me that most providers keep a couple empty slots in their appointment schedule for last minute walk-ins. I tried this and it worked. OTOH, I have also used the regular walk-in clinic. To see my PCP for my annual, I received a letter about 6 months in advance asking me to call and schedule the appointment. The big change is that our local place did away with their central appointment desk and now each department schedules their own.

If you are looking for a “cooler dry climate,” that’s what you get here in Montana. Anything over 15% humidity is high for us. And, of course, it depends on your definition of “cooler.” We had -21F last week but those only lasts a couple days and it will be in the upper-30s, lower-40s for the next couple weeks. As as all-year runner, I like these cooler temps.
Posted 2/28/2023 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Never have an issue getting into my PCP the same day if there is an issue. Some UROs are 90 days. Other specialties maybe a month.
Posted 2/28/2023 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
I can get into a general family doctor at the clinic in a reasonable amount of time here in northern Utah. Getting an appointment with a specialist takes forever. Wanted an appointment with an Endocrinologist for some tests. First, I was told I must have a referral from another doctor. Then once the referral is received, the office has to review it and determine, as I was told, "if we actually want to take you on as a patient." I was informed that process takes around two weeks. ( It took one week) Once I was granted the privilege of being accepted as a patient, the first appointment was four weeks away. 😠
Posted 2/28/2023 3:04 PM (GMT 0)

Startech said...
Over the last 18 months here in Central Florida, getting an appointment with my PCP and Specialist has been increasingly infuriating. 4 to 6 weeks wait time. I'm told if I can't wait, go to a walk in clinic or the ER. Is this a nationwide trend?
I'm relocating anyways, because hot flashes and Florida summers don't mix. So I'm searching for a new Med. Onco in cooler dry climate areas.
Keep fighting warriors, we got this.

no delays here. my colonoscopy took about a month which is slightly longer than normal but i can see my doctor same day
Posted 2/28/2023 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
Like Montana, northern Utah provides a cooler, dry climate. Montana winters are much "cooler" than ours. Southern Utah is a furnace during the summer. World class skiing here but the entire state is culturally depressed. And our basketball team sucks.
Posted 2/28/2023 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Not with mine. I have a lingering cough and cold and decided to go in today. Sent an email overnight and got a 7:30am appointment this morning. Sounds like you need a better PCP to me.
Posted 2/28/2023 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
My PCP is scheduled out to May. I saw him last week and he said they were getting slammed with lots appointments for very minor issues. He said if I had an urgent need they would get me in quicker.
Jack
Posted 3/1/2023 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Vince. Yep, they used to leave a slot open for emergencies, but evidently not anymore. Now they depend on cancellations instead...sigh. Montana sounds awesome, but no way I could handle the winters. I have been looking at Coeur D'alene since it's relatively close to Spokane.

Duck2, where?

Thanks Ed, that's great! But I cant do Cali...

Thanks Rock, that's some improvement compared to here. But not ideal for sure.

Hey Jack! Thanks for responding. I made about 6 calls to other PCPs and it was all the same here. Last Friday, a neighbor got real sick and didn't have a Primary. So we had his insurance email us a list and we made about 10 calls with no luck. So I took him to the ER last Sat. morning. He is still in the hospital with low white blood count as they are still running test. Too much humidity there, but thanks for chiming in.

Oh no Jack64. Sounds like here. Do you think it is the same in Prescott or Flagstaff?
Posted 3/1/2023 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Startech - keep in mind many nice places to live tend to not offer the best health care options or are expensive (California).

Cool and dry is a nice concept. Flagstaff and Bend, OR come to mind but also have a winter of some sort. The entire Rocky Mountain area is that way for the most part at higher altitudes. Just depends on what cool means and what dry means to you. Usually to get cool gets you some winter, dry is usually hotter or high altitude.
Posted 3/1/2023 3:40 AM (GMT 0)

Startech said...
Thanks Vince. Yep, they used to leave a slot open for emergencies, but evidently not anymore. Now they depend on cancellations instead...sigh. Montana sounds awesome, but no way I could handle the winters. I have been looking at Coeur D'alene since it's relatively close to Spokane.

When we decided to leave California (LA area) a bit over 30-years ago we did lots of research and traveling to check things out. My only weather concern is that I did not want heat. I was making a career change as well (engineering to teaching) and I wanted a city, not a village, as wanted some level of local economic efficiency. After doing our homework we decided that Spokane or Billings would work. I had a job offer in Billings first and that’s where we went.

I’ve been retired now over 10-years and my wife is a self-employed CPA with, as she says, a “boutique practice” and is flexible in terms of time off with no plans to retire, yet. We discuss relocating but can’t decide on a place. Our kids moved away so we have no family here and aren’t concerned with being near any. She likes New Mexico. I like western Pennsylvania. It’s relatively inexpensive to stay where we are. Medical is a big issue but when I was diagnosed, I got on a plane and went to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s all about trade-offs.
Posted 3/1/2023 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Startech, I played baseball in Flagstaff, a very beautiful area close to the Grand Canyon. Quite cold in the Winter, perfect in the Summer. I don’t think they have any doctors in either Flagstaff or Prescott. What I can gather no one gets sick in paradise.😉
Posted 3/1/2023 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
For aches and pains, respiratory infections, flu, etc...that I think warrants medical attention I don't schedule with my PCP - which would probably involve a wait of a couple days. I go straight to urgent care, which is open 8am - 10pm. If I make an appointment same-day there's no wait. Very convenient. No co-pay w/ my insurance. Sometimes the provider is a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant. But that's fine by me. In my experience NP's and PA's are more thorough and willing to please than some MD's I've had. I've never had a bad visit with any of them. Plus, the urgent care I go to is equipped with an on-site lab, x-rays, some basic medicines. If I need follow-up then I schedule to see my PCP. Once I needed to see a specialist and the NP at urgent care gave me a referral. Saw the specialist a couple days later. No complaints.
Posted 3/1/2023 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
TJ123, I agree completely. I was unfortunate this year to get the flu twice. We have an urgent care within one mile of our house. I went there both times as a walk-in and the service and testing were very quick. An X-ray was given both times to check for pneumonia. Prescriptions were given to help me breathe better and I recovered quickly. The experience was top notch. My co-pay was $50.00 using my insurance. Thanks for the reminder. Urgent cares are great. My best to you.
Jack
Posted 3/3/2023 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I called this last Wednesday, got in yesterday.
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