Is the only option for accessible primary care in the DC area Concierge?

Anonymous
I tried to set up a sick appt with my primary care physician and the next available appt was in December! I certainly hope I feel better by then!

Are there any Primary care docs that take insurance and actually have availability for sick visits in our area? Preferably Bethesda/Potomac but I’d consider anywhere for more consistent/reliable access.
Anonymous
I have no problems getting care with Kaiser. I think it’s crazy how people pay additional fees on top of insurance for access to primary care appts and telehealth. Totallly a racket.
Anonymous
I just started going to PrimeDoc, which is a combined primary care/urgent care practice in the building across from Saks in Chevy Chase. They also have other locations. https://primedoc.com/

I really like them! They seem to be a hybrid model: more geared to actual primary care than are the various urgent care chains around town, but they take walk-ins during certain hours. I'd planned to schedule a physical there but got sick in the meantime and was able to schedule an appointment online on very short notice (next day) even though I was not yet an established patient.

I saw Dr. Beryl Kompancaril and really liked her, as well as all the staff I dealt with.

I have CareFirst BCBS through the DC exchange and had no trouble with insurance. Visits and tests covered with the usual copay, no billing hassles, very user-friendly online portal.
Anonymous
I do One Medical. At one point I thought a primary care doc at GW Medical Associates would be better, but I went back to One Medical after I had the same experience of being unable to schedule a reasonable sick visit.
Anonymous
I joined one medical pre-amazon and it’s been pretty good. A physical with my pcp takes 4 months to schedule but someone can see me within 24 hours for a sick visit.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have no problems getting care with Kaiser. I think it’s crazy how people pay additional fees on top of insurance for access to primary care appts and telehealth. Totallly a racket.


Speak for yourself. Kaiser was horrible for us. Much happier with our PPO. Not going back!
Anonymous
I have no problem with my doctor at INOVA primary care.
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks for the suggestions!
Anonymous
I have good luck with Johns Hopkins Primary Care. They have offices in MoCo at least.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with my doctor at INOVA primary care.


This very much depends on the office. I left INOVA Primary Care McLean because it was a six month wait to see my pcp for an annual physical and if I needed her for anything else, even if I was willing to wait weeks or even a couple of months for an appointment, I had to see the NP. The NP was a mess, multiple times. I got fed up and found a concierge doctor. That isn’t perfect, but it’s much better; I see the doctor and can always see her within 48 hrs. I can text her at any time (although I don’t).
Anonymous
My concierge PCP refused to see me when I reported finding a tick on my leg. He was also dismissive when I reported tinnitus. The third, and most crappy behavior was when he cancelled my physical appt because “ he had something else to do”.


Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have good luck with Johns Hopkins Primary Care. They have offices in MoCo at least.


Not sure if that’s the same thing as Hopkins Community Physicians but that’s where I go and have been pretty pleased. I go to their office on Executive but I think there are multiple locations.
Anonymous
One medical isn't too expensive.
Anonymous
I can get an appointment within a few days with Inova. Often times the next day if I look on their online schedule and find an opening.
Anonymous
OP, are you sure they don't reserve spots for sick appointments? Did you call and specifically ask for those? If you're suffering from a standard viral infection with run-of-the-mill symptoms, do they have a nurse hotline you can use instead?

This is how many systems are run these days, to avoid the primary care bottleneck.
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