Having a doctor quandry - how have others managed this?

[Anonymous]

I need to select a PCP. First, there's the problem of how to choose from that long list of names. But I can figure that out.

More importantly, they all need to have seen you once before you can get in for an urgent visit. Most have a first available appointment in December or January. So... do I make the switch, then make the appointment, and go in when I'm perfectly healthy just to have that "first visit" out of the way? And hope that nothing urgent comes up between now and then?

I just want to have a doctor in place in case I get the flu or something. I almost never go to the doctor, so it seems dumb to have to go once, just to ensure that I can get an appointment if/when I do need to be seen on an urgent basis.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by urgent? Same day? Or within a day or two? Or both? That's an odd requirement to me. What do you need a PCP for other than illness? Some vax renewals? What's that, every five or 10 years? Maybe go in for a flu shot? If you go in for no reason, does insurance cover it?

I'm not much help I know. I'd probably search more for a PCP who doesn't have that requirement. Where are you looking?

[Anonymous]

Yes, urgent within 24 hours, like if I need a prescription for a sinus infection, or that flu-stopper drug, or for an injury. I've never found a practice who will put you on their sick visit schedule (same day or early next) as a new patient. They'll only give you the next available regular appointment, which is always months out.

Looking in NW DC, downtown or MtP/ CH. Washington Hospital Center would be fine, but their physicians have the same restriction.

[Anonymous]

I just went through this and, yes, made the appointment for a physical many months away so that I could now be a patient of a PCP so that if I need something I have someone to call. Don't think there's any way to get around it.

[Anonymous]

Why are you opposed to establishing a relationship with a new doctor and getting a physical done. It's a very important thing to have a physical every few years and it gives your doctor somewhere to start with you. It's not unreasonable that a doctor would want an opportunity to establish your base line health status and also brief personal introduction. This is good medical care.

If you aren't interested in this type of care why not just go to the minute clinic at CVS?

[Anonymous]

I totally feel your pain OP. It is a stupid and expensive loop to get stuck in. Maybe the PP's who couldn't understand your quandry have insurance that covers as many visits as they like to make? I have to pay out of pocket for most of my visits and my insurance also requires a PCP.

Previously I've been lumped along with whatever doc was avail and have suffered through hating the practice I was with and strongly disliking my PCP but not knowing where else to go. Finally last week I managed to get a recommendation to a new doctor - I sought out her practice, established she is taking new patients and takes my (limited) insurance. Then I went ahead and made my new patient appointment but listed it as an "annual physical".

Many policies, including mine, will pay 100% for an annual, regardless of your deductible (mine is huge) so this seemed a good way to get into their books, meet the doctor in person and establish a relationship with her while still healthy AND get it covered by my insurance. Sure, I have had to list her now as my PCP ahead of actually meeting her, but this seemed like an OK risk to take since she was highly recommended (and can't be any worse than the doc I was previously with!!).

Like you, I felt insecure not having a doc I could turn to during flu and virus season, esp since I have a Kindergartner who brings every bug going home with her AND I am pregnant!

Good luck - try what I did. Sounds like you haven;t had a physical for a while so check to see if your insurance covers you and go ahead and make your first appt with the doc of your choice as that and then you get to kill two birds with one stone (for free - hopefully).

[Anonymous]

Get a physical. You should have one anyway. Prevention is critical to long-term health. A physical helps catch things early, while they are easy to manage.

[Anonymous]

I have found that even if I am in the waiting period or have not seen the new doctor yet, if I make it clear to the nurse that I am urgently ill, I will be seen.