Does your doctor's office take your name & call you if someone cancels an appt?

[Pixiedust34]

I've been seeing the same dermatologist for years. It usually takes months to get an appointment with her. My annual appointment was June 1st, but I'm having a skin problem and was able to move my appointment up to 4/23, the soonest they can give me.

I'd like to see her sooner if possible. I'm thinking of calling her office on Monday AM and asking to be called on-the-spot if anyone cancels an appointment. I can be there within 45 minutes. Does your doctor's office have a waiting list for calling if someone cancels? A friend told me that this is common practice, but I've never heard of having your name on hold to be called if someone else cancels an appointment before your appointment.

 

[Christine]

Most of mine do; however, it has never worked out for me. Either there's a really long list of people waiting or they don't really do it.

 

[JessicaR]

I would call and ask if they would consider it. You have nothing to lose and possibly may get in much sooner. Hope you do! This will also let them know how anxious you are to get in ASAP. Also a good thing in case they can move you up again.

I have had luck doing this many times.

 

[WheresTheLove]

I would call and ask if they would consider it. You have nothing to lose and possibly may get in much sooner. Hope you do! This will also let them know how anxious you are to get in ASAP. Also a good thing in case they can move you up again.

I have had luck doing this many times.

I completely agree. Definitely won't hurt to ask! Good luck.

 

[minniecarousel]

Why is it derm offices are the worst at appts? One time, when my kids were little, the pediatrician couldn't see what caused my son's rash and referred him to a derm. The soonest appt was for 2 months out! I was able to cancel that appt, as the rash cleared up by then.

Our derm office has PA's who are very good and I'll go to one of them for routine stuff, and they usually have appts available within a few days.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks, everyone! I will call on Monday AM and will ask if they can please call me to come in if anyone cancels an appointment. If they don't call, at least I'll still have my appointment that is already scheduled in 2 weeks.

It seems that there aren't enough dermatologists to meet demand nowadays. If you have a kid interested in a job in medicine, push for dermatology!

 

[JessicaR]

Any 'good' specialist is a LONG wait to get in around here. My rheumatologist has a 4 month wait. It really is crazy.

 

[disfan07]

I just did that today, but I go directly through my dermatologist. She makes my appointments for me to fit my schedule. My situation is so unusual that if I need to get in immediately, I email or call my doctor directly she fits me in to see my right when they open, durign lunch or at the end of teh day. (times of the day that the office wont make appointmetns iwthout doctor aproval so i just cut out the middle man)

They do have a regular waiting list but i've never used it but i highly doubt many people get called form it.

I saw my neurologist today and I couldn't make a 6 week follow up because they didn't have anything!! I had to make a 9 week follow up instead.

The problem with dermatology, is that so many of them do primarily cosmetic dermatology not general, because cosmetic is where the money is.
My derm. is incredible but finding a general derm in beverly hills means that you basically have to go with someone associated with cedars or ucla to get a good one.

 

[dislaney]

Thanks, everyone! I will call on Monday AM and will ask if they can please call me to come in if anyone cancels an appointment. If they don't call, at least I'll still have my appointment that is already scheduled in 2 weeks.

It seems that there aren't enough dermatologists to meet demand nowadays. If you have a kid interested in a job in medicine, push for dermatology!

I have done this before and sometimes it does work out that I get in quicker. Never hurts to try.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm confused - is there a reason you need to wait until Monday to call? Did I miss a day? I thought today's only Thursday?

 

[mking624]

I personally wouldn't even bother at my OB's office. The front desk staff isn't exactly the brightest. When I called to make my first appointment, I said it was for OB...and she asked me at least 15 times (NO exaggeration) during the call if I was pregnant. Um, I'm pretty sure that's why I'd be going in for an OB appointment...
When I had to reschedule an appointment, I still got an appointment reminder call for the original date. I called them back to let them know that I wasn't making that one, I had it rescheduled. No joke, about 10 minutes later, someone else from their front desk called with an appointment reminder for the original date.
Now they have a new intern working the desk...and I guess the requirement was that she had to be of the same intelligence as them because here's how the conversation went a couple of weeks ago...
Intern: Your appointment needs to be 2 weeks from now?
Me: Yes, in the late afternoon, 3 or later.
Intern: Ok. (begins searching the database) You said early morning, right?
Me: No. Late afternoon, 3 or later. My husband works during the day. I can’t come in any earlier than 3pm.
Intern: How does April 2nd at 12:45 sound?

Fortunately a nurse overheard and entered it in. She put in April 6th at 11:45 but made a note that I would not be there until 3:30 (for some reason the time was blocked to enter appointments though none were scheduled). So what happens? Intern calls me the day before the appointment with a reminder to be there at 11:45. Obviously clueless to the note... *sigh*

My doctor is alright but if I ever get pregnant again, I'm going to a different office. Anyway, all that to say that with MY doctor...I wouldn't even bother. The staff can't even handle their normal appointments...forget trying to to call someone about any last minute openings!

 

[2binak]

Every dr. I've seen has put my name on a wait list when needed. I've had to ask to be put on it at times and at other times the receptionist has offered to put me on the list when I explained that I wanted to be seen asap. I've done this with PCP's, dentists, and various specialists.

 

[scrapquitler]

I've been seeing the same dermatologist for years. It usually takes months to get an appointment with her. My annual appointment was June 1st, but I'm having a skin problem and was able to move my appointment up to 4/23, the soonest they can give me.

I'd like to see her sooner if possible. I'm thinking of calling her office on Monday AM and asking to be called on-the-spot if anyone cancels an appointment. I can be there within 45 minutes. Does your doctor's office have a waiting list for calling if someone cancels? A friend told me that this is common practice, but I've never heard of having your name on hold to be called if someone else cancels an appointment before your appointment.

I tried to do this with our dermatologist a few months ago (my son needed to be seen, the appointment was 3 months out, then the doctor cancelled on us the week before and rescheduled it for another 6 weeks out!!!), and they told me that they don't do a cancellation list, just call every few days and ask. What a PITA

 

[KandD]

I used to work for specialists and when I first started working there we had no call "list" and I said "Why the heck not?" so I enthusiastically started a cancellation call list and soon found out why we didn't have one...most people could not make the appointments that I offered them. Some people I would call and leave a message with the appt. time and they would never call back. Some people didn't even remember asking to be called for a sooner appt!! It became much more hassle than it was worth.
So I say there is no harm in asking but I wouldn't blame them if they didn't have one. A trick though is to call midmorning and see if they have cancellations for the next day (by that time they should have finished confirming and they may have gotten some cancellations).