Doctors and dentists having no availability
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Anonymous
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Why is it so hard to make appointments?
It feels like everyone is always booked out for months. Whether it is the orthodontist or a specialist, the waits to be seen are so long. It is so hard to become a doctor in this country. There should be more doctors. |
Anonymous
| Yes it is very frustrating. Look far and wide, you may get something sooner. |
Anonymous
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A lot of people postponed care during the pandemic. Now they're making up for lost time. In some cases that's why. But personally I'm not having a problem.
My dentist books months out but he leaves some gaps in his schedule for emergencies and if need be, someone who's already a patient can get in the same week. My dermatologist books either the same week or the following week. My oral surgeon books about a week and a half out. My regular doctor will get an established patient in within three days. |
Anonymous
| Both of the specialists I see at Georgetown told me they’ve had a slew of retirements this year, which has really slowed things down. I call the appointment line and check for cancellations periodically. But if it feels urgent and you’re an established patient, maybe email your doctor and their nurse can get you in sooner. |
Anonymous
| It can take much longer for a first appointment. Once you're on the books, it might not be as bad for follow up appointments. |
Anonymous
| agree with 8:23, but also just too many specialists. The US could use ore primary care/front line staff. MDs are great but I'm with a NP. For a speciality issue, then if I can find a specialist will go to that person. |
Anonymous
| The crazy thing is I can never tell who’s going to be booked for months and who’s going to have multiple appointments available within 2 weeks. The ENT and optometrist were fine. My kids pediatrician has same and next day sick appointments again finally, although the good appointment slots for yearly checkups still go fast. But the dentist, gyno, and my PCP? Forget about it. 2+ months in advance. |
Anonymous
Even specialists are hard to see. I had to get on a waitlist to even get an appointment for a colonoscopy. I was on the waitlist for the last three months, and now I have to wait for the actual appointment. |
Anonymous
| I called in January for an appointment with my long time dermatologist. First available was July. |
Anonymous
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Supply and demand.
Supply of doctors decreasing (retirements, frustration of managing an office/ever increasing levels of scrutiny on insurance claims, etc), demand increasing. Pandemic ended well over a year ago but some treatments these days take multiple visits. Some providers see patients during abbreviated hours -- Monday through Thursday, usually some variation on 8 to 4 pm. Hope they volunteer on Fridays or see their emergencies then. |
Anonymous
| Lots of 50+ doctors and dentists retired during Covid peaks rather than be exposed to illness every day. It's going to take a while to replace them. |
Anonymous
| Boomers have a lot to do with it, both with doctors retiring and the general population needing more medical care as they age. |
Anonymous
| My derm books out 4 months in advance . |
Anonymous
| Today is 5/1 and I just made an appointment with an oral surgeon for 5/14. It's not an emergency so that's fine. |
Anonymous
| You needs to go out of network with providers that don't except insurance |