How Long Does It Take You to Get an Appt. with a specialist dr?

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I have to make 3 appts. for ds 16. One is for his asthma dr. He needs forms filled out for his med to be used at school, gym requirements etc. I just called and got an appt. for next week. That is amazing, but ds is a returning patient and I guess him working for the dr. last summer didnt hurt either.

Now dr. #2, eye specialist, o.k. he is the best around here and the best surgeon too, its a group but I only want the one dr. I cant even get through to the office. All I get is a "this extension is not responding" Oh gheesh. Last time I had to wait 2 months for ds, looks like it will be the same again. This place doesnt care if you are a returning or new patient. Same priority except maybe for the premature babies they take first.

Next dr. #3, specialist at the university hosp. Havent called her yet. Last time I got the wait cut down to l month because she was the new dr. on staff in the dept. and I took her over the dr. the pediatrician recommended only because they told me that the other recommened dr. would review ds case anyway. O.k. My bad I was actually suppose to take ds back in dec, but with my aunt terminally ill etc. I put it on hold. He still needs new blood work and an x ray before he goes back to her. I will see what happens with that one.

So how long do you have to wait to see a specialist as a new or returning patient or a specialist that is in high demand etc?

 

[luvwinnie]

My rheum. I only have to wait a week or so...he takes no insurance and prefers to have less patients that he can truly devote the proper time to.

For my cardio, it takes a few weeks...neuro also.

 

[wdwmom2]

I schedule appointments with specialists all the time. The worst is dermatology. It can take anywhere around 3-5 months to get in around where I'm from. Sometimes we send them down the road to Hopkins, Univ. of MD, or DC Children's. This can be quicker. Now if it is something that is of a more urgent nature, if my doc calls and speaks to the specialist then the specialist will work them in. Other specialies such as cardio, neuro, gastro, ortho, ophtho, etc, those can take anywhere from 1 - 2 weeks to around 2 months.

 

[AllyandJack]

I called my GYN on Tuesday and was seen on Thursday. I have a PPO, so I cut out the middle man and I don't have to wait for referrals and crap like that. My gastro....usually under a week. My eye doctor....I called first thing this AM and they told me to come right in. "Right in" for me is a few hours since I'm about 2 hours away. I'm really lucky in the doctor department. I've had the same doctors for many years and never have to wait more than week for an appointment. If I can wait, I'll tell them I can wait. If I can't, I'm seen right away. My family doctor builds in 2 hours a day for emergency patients - people who call first thing in the AM and need to be seen that day.

 

[arminnie]

This reminded me to make some appts for my dad. These were new doctors - no referral needed. I just called up the phone number. Two days for the dermatologist and 3 days for the ophthamologist. Both have great reputations.

Maybe because he is 85 they didn't make him wait?

 

[golfgal]

I think it really depends on how serious your situation is. If my kids were having problems I could get them into their asthma dr in a matter of minutes, for regular check-up's, I have to schedule about 4 months in advance.

 

[j's m]

My DS's ped will be same day for sick care, we might have to wait in the office since it's gets crowded, but they've never turned me down. Well care, same office, this last visit was over a 2 month wait.

My asthma doctor is maybe a week for well care, same day for emergency. But I've been seeing him for close to 25 years.

A new appt at the dermatologist, 2 1/2 months as a new patient, shorter if you want to see the PA. This is the worst specialist to get an appt with.

Appts for DS for nephrologist, urologist, opthamologist I usually just schedule 1-2 months ahead of time since they're regular appts. I learned with the pedi opthamologist it's at least 2 months out during the summer.