New patient General Practitioners in your state or only Urgent Care?

[tvguy]

But is it real or Public Relations nonsense? The hospital I called has a website that says 12 are accepting new patients with profiles but when I called zero were real, I spoke with the referral person who acknowledged the website of a VERY high profile hospital is just not reflecting the truth.

I don't know. However, our experience with my wife's Doctor is , the site is usually wrong if it says "Not Accepting New Patients". My wife was going to refer a friend to her Doctor and it said she was not accepting new patients. When she told the Doctor that, the Doctor was surprised the Medical Groups website said that. That was changed the next day to accepting new patients.
At least here in California, there is so much red tape around Doctors. A friend needs a procedure done but lives in a small town. She has Covered California Medical Insurance, our version of Obama care. They changed the rules last year, she can't get treatment more than 30 miles from her home address. The closest specialist is 150 miles away. She is still two months into the appeals process and still waiting for approval for an exception since there is no other option.

 

[LuvOrlando]

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-cent...dent-sounds-alarm-national-physician-shortage

Hadn't occurred to me that practicing Drs could be leaving from burnout but after the trauma of Covid it does make complete sense

Thing is how does the US incentivize going into medicine?

 

[georgina]

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-cent...dent-sounds-alarm-national-physician-shortage

Hadn't occurred to me that practicing Drs could be leaving from burnout but after the trauma of Covid it does make complete sense

Thing is how does the US incentivize going into medicine?

Money. Not gonna happen in the current national economic climate though.

I drive elderly patients to doctor appts as a volunteer. There is a critical need for people specializing in geriatric medicine, as the population ages.

 

[jimmymc]

I haven't seen this issue in the Detroit suburbs. I don't have much experience with specialists.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Just found this new story that overlaps

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/loca...primary-care-doctor-shortage-in-mass/3610037/

Not great if it is expected to grow into a larger problem.

 

[kanne323]

I live in one of the most suburban areas of a rural state. When I moved here a few years ago, I called 40 practices- out of that, I was waitlisted at one and got an appointment at another for almost a year later. 38 were not even waitlisting new patients, they just weren't taking them at all, and that includes every single practice of the state's biggest hospital system. I've been here about 2.5 years and don't love my PCP and really dislike how the practice is run, but I can't switch, because no one else is taking new patients. I ended up with a gynecologist almost an hour away, with a different health care system, that doesn't even have a doctor- I saw a locum who was in from another state, and have no idea who I'll see at this year's appointment. I've only been able to easily get into one specialist (and they have to take new people quickly) but I'd prefer the other big health care system, but can't get in there because my PCP is not with them. It's pretty common for people in my area to go out of state for care, but my new insurance cut that option. And I keep reminding myself I live in the area of my state where it's easier to get healthcare... my family all the way in the northern part of the state is in a much worse predicament. It's frustrating. So that's a long answer to the original question- urgent care for sick visits and better hope you don't need follow up.

 

[NC Belle]

I had to wait 5 months for my waitlist position before got my current primary doctor first visit. She has been my mother's primary for years. Her PA+C is easier to book and I communicate on the office app for questions. It took 2 months on waitlist for my dermatologist, and she is great. My GI office is the only non hospital option and my office visit was changed at the last minute and failure to tell me in time so I am not sure on that new timeline.
I am having the hardest time in finding a rheumatologist that is not a long drive and takes my insurance. My parents have gone to a local practice that was in network when I chose my plan, but once 2025 began...they are out, and the closest in-network was bad decades ago when my mother had her.