How far out do you have to schedule your physicals?

[crashbb]

the average waiting period for physicals in my area is ONE YEAR. crazy huh.

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Based on your location, we live in the same area and I don't know a single person who waits a year for their physical, much less anyone who waits 20+ months (as there would have to be, in order for the average to be 12 months). Most people think I'm strange that I book mine four to five months out (they book much closer to the date than that). The only exception is people (like a couple of PP) who book their appointment when leaving their last one (I do that for some of my specialists), but that is for convenience, not because it takes a year to get an appointment.

There may well be practices where that happens, but it is not the "average waiting period" for the area.

 

[tvguy]

That is not normal at all.

I called this morning to get an appointment for next Monday or Tuesday morning. Since I have to fast for bloodwork, I wanted an early appointment which meant Tuesday. I didn't even ask about an appointment for this week but I am sure I would have been able to get something, especially if I didn't care about the time.

Guess it depends on your Doctor. I've always made my next appointment just before leaving my current appointment. So 6 months to a year in advance, depending on when the Doctor wants to see me again.
Now, illness, that's a different story.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Guess it depends on your Doctor. I've always made my next appointment just before leaving my current appointment. So 6 months to a year in advance, depending on when the Doctor wants to see me again.
Now, illness, that's a different story.

How far in advance would you have to call to make an appointment if you didn't schedule one when you are there? I could have made my current appointment 6 months ago when I was there for some blood work but it doesn't mean I need to make a well visit appointment 6 months in advance.

 

[anniemae]

for a routine physical, my dr. is booked over a year in advance. It really stinks because you can't cancel or move it without going on a waiting list and hoping for the best. I make my appt. on my way out the door and my last appt was May of 2012, so I wanted to make my next one for may of 2013, well her next available appt was Aug of 2013, so she was booked 15 months out. Its ridiculous. If I didn't like her, I would try to switch.

 

[tvguy]

How far in advance would you have to call to make an appointment if you didn't schedule one when you are there? I could have made my current appointment 6 months ago when I was there for some blood work but it doesn't mean I need to make a well visit appointment 6 months in advance.

I have no idea, I've never done it any other way. It may be an offshoot of the work environment my wife and I work in. Time off requests are usually put in 9 months to a year in advance. I tend to like to take cruises, I book those 12 to 18 months in advance.

 

[kt_mom]

Sounds like he isn't taking new patients anymore and since you hadn't seen him for almost 4 years she had to check with him. Some of the Drs. in the practice I go to don't see any new patients.

Yea, he hasn't been taking new patients for years now. I had to do the same thing last time I called in to make a physical appointment but didn't have any trouble when I called in for a regular sick appointment.

 

[JessicaR]

My Internist about a month out maybe a little more but sometimes less. The kids Pediatrician at least 3 months out but he is a single doctor practice.

sick visits with both - same day.

 

[bettymae1121]

I just got in same-day for a sick appointment at mine. I would guess a normal well visit checkup would be around 4-6 weeks if I was flexable with day/time.