Wow, don't plan on getting an appointment with a neurologist in St. Mary's County if...

DQ2B

Active Member
You've been in a car accident. Not a single neurologist we've called will set an appointment.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
It's not just neurologists. Practically every specialist and even just family practice are in very short supply with very long waits for an appointment...

I had a semi-emergency with my back recently and the only way I managed to get in in less than many weeks was because I personally knew the orthopedic specialist I wanted to see. He "snuck" me in front of the line.
 

b23hqb

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
It's going to take a while to reverse the trend of obamacare-fleeing physicians.
 

DQ2B

Active Member
It's not just neurologists. Practically every specialist and even just family practice are in very short supply with very long waits for an appointment...

I had a semi-emergency with my back recently and the only way I managed to get in in less than many weeks was because I personally knew the orthopedic specialist I wanted to see. He "snuck" me in front of the line.

It's not that there is a long wait. They refuse to give an appointment at ALL based on the fact that the request for the appointment is the result of a car accident.
 
My daughter ruptured her eardrum and was told to see an ENT immediately. Called first thing Monday morning, 2 week wait - the only reason they could get her in that day is because they had another person cancel.

Husband had emergency surgery and was told to follow up with primary care in 2 days. You guessed it - 2 weeks before he could get an appointment.

And they wonder why urgent care and ERs are so busy - you can't even get a follow up with a primary care or specialist in a reasonable amount of time, much less an emergency visit!
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
It's not that there is a long wait. They refuse to give an appointment at ALL based on the fact that the request for the appointment is the result of a car accident.

Not sure why a car accident would make a difference..that sure seems odd. I do know that some local offices refuse Workmen's' Comp cases though. My previous point was simply that even if appointments can be had at all, they are anything but timely.
 

DQ2B

Active Member
My daughter ruptured her eardrum and was told to see an ENT immediately. Called first thing Monday morning, 2 week wait - the only reason they could get her in that day is because they had another person cancel.

Husband had emergency surgery and was told to follow up with primary care in 2 days. You guessed it - 2 weeks before he could get an appointment.

And they wonder why urgent care and ERs are so busy - you can't even get a follow up with a primary care or specialist in a reasonable amount of time, much less an emergency visit!

We would gladly take an appointment 2, 3 weeks out but they refuse to give the appointment at all.
 

nobody really

I need a nap
We would gladly take an appointment 2, 3 weeks out but they refuse to give the appointment at all.

it may be because of the "car accident". if you go to the dr, most offices have policies that says if its a car accident or workman's comp claim they want payment up front. I think if you put "car accident" on your form (the form you fill out at the dr office), the insurance company won't pay -- assuming you are getting reimbursed through your car insurance under the PIP. so, they don't want to run the risk of the patient not paying (if they don't get reimbursed). That's my guess.

so I think the words "car accident" is what the problem is.
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
Not sure why a car accident would make a difference..that sure seems odd. I do know that some local offices refuse Workmen's' Comp cases though. My previous point was simply that even if appointments can be had at all, they are anything but timely.

It's because the office will be chasing their money for years. Even if the health insurance pays for the visit, they claw it back from the doc a year later and tell him to get it from the car insurance. The car insurance points to the attorney who represents the patient and the attorney tells them to go to the health insurance.
 

Restitution

New Member
My personal favorite is when your Primary Care Provider will scrub you from the books if you do not make an appearance every 6 months or yearly. If I am a healthy individual and don't need to go see my doctor for anything then why waste the time and money?

I guess they need that steady flow of income instead of being a family doctor :shrug:
 

Lovely

New Member
We often find it difficult to get medical appointments with out primary physicians and specialist for adults on short notice in St. Mary's County. (Southern and) even though we are established patient. During the last three years we have developed relationships with specialists and primAru care doctors in Va and Montgomery county and we nolonger have difficulties getting an appointments when needed. It's worth the drive.
 

BernieP

Resident PIA
When it comes to specialists consider two things
1. they are part of a larger group practice that has maybe 3 to 6 offices throughout the So. Maryland region. In some cases not just the doctors, but the entire office rotates.
2. the doctors are employees, they work 9 to 5. Do the math on how many patients they can see in a day.
3. there are fewer specialists because their malpractice insurance is generally higher than a GP physician. This is a problem with the cost of healthcare, but it can also force specialists out of the state of Maryland because of tort law.
 
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