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.

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.

One medical isn't too expensive.

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.

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 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).

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

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions!

I have no problem with my doctor at INOVA primary care.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.