Mary Ann
Have you notice lately how difficult it is to get a doctor’s appointment? For some specialists, it can take you 6 to 9 months to get an appointment. New patients just must wait. However, I have noticed how hard it is to get an appointment with a doctor where you are an established patient. I am finding I am waiting a couple of months to see one.
For example, I recently had a problem with my ears and sinuses, so I called my ENT for an appointment to get to the root of what is going on between my ears. It was painful, and I needed some help. This was the beginning of August, and I couldn’t get in until the middle of September. I am an established patient. I ended up going twice to my primary who gave me an antibiotic and later a steroid. It would hold me over until I could see the specialist. Well, I got a call from the ENT office, and they had to reschedule me because the doctor was not coming in on my appointment day. The earliest they could reschedule me was two weeks later. By the time I see the doctor, it will be a full two months. Thankfully, I had some options because I was really in discomfort.
Another example, I have found myself looking for a new dermatologist. I just didn’t feel I was getting the attention I needed for a mole check – 5 minutes in and out. So, I began looking around. Our county newspaper does best of whatever, so I called the top dermatology group that was selected by our community for an appointment. I was shocked what the appointment desk told me. There was a two year wait to see the lead doctor. However, I could get an appointment with the new associate in a year, so I have an appointment a year out. I wanted a great woman dermatologist. I guess everyone else also wanted these doctors.
I understand this is happening everywhere. I have friends in NYC with its many doctors and hospitals, and they are waiting for appointments and testing slots. We are apparently having a doctor’s shortage, and even if you have good insurance or money, it is not helping.
According to Google, we are having a growing doctor shortage and by 2036 there will be a deficit of 86,000 doctors. We have major shortages in general practitioners, family medicine, and geriatrics, as well as specialties. Since I have enough specialists for a baseball team (I borrowed this from Dave Barry), this is horrifying for us old people. We (70 plus million people over 65) are geriatric, and we need doctors that understand this phase of life.
It is rumored that next year Medicare is going to ask doctors to do an appointment for an evaluation and then another appointment for the procedure. If you need your ears cleaned, it may now take you twice the amount of time to solve your problem. I guess the powers that be are making it even harder to get medical care. How does that solve anything?
I joke all the time that my social life is going to the doctors. It is a rare week that I do not have a doctor’s appointment of one kind or another. I am trying to stay on top of my health issues. I wonder what we can all do to help this growing crisis? Most of us cannot send a young person to medical school; however, medical schools need to increase their enrollment. I know some young people who wait years to get accepted. Step up, teaching hospitals! We have a lot of smart kids in the USA that would make wonderful doctors. This is supply and demand. We demand more doctors.
On a grassroot level, we can all have more patience with our doctors. I swallowed hard when my ENT appointment was changed. The doctors are doing the best that they can, and God bless the receptionists – they get all the complaints! Take something to read or do like knitting or brain games, so you can look at the wait time as a gift to do some fun things.
We can say thank you. I get small gifts for my doctors for Christmas, just a remembrance, and write an appreciation note in the Christmas cards. I don’t spend much money on the gifts, so I try to be creative – a tin of tea or a gift card from Starbucks. The doctors are so appreciative, touched in many ways. A personal note can suffice as well. I always tell them not to write me a thank you note, their time is precious. I am thanking them, not necessary for them to thank me.
My brother-in-law with Parkinson goes to many doctors as he fights this disease. He takes candy bars to his appointments for the whole staff, and it ripples through the office that Ron is here with his basket of goodies. They all need a pick-me-up during their busy days. Ron is the Johnny Appleseed of medical goodwill.
I am sure that you have your way of expressing your appreciation of the people who take care of you. We need our doctors, and we need to be grateful for them. A sincere thank you can be the best medicine for your doctor and you.
