According to the Arthritis Foundation there is a severe shortage of rheumatologists. I know many of us see that reflected in limited numbers in our insurance plans as well as long wait times for appointments.
How often does your rheumatologist see patients? How long do you have to wait for an appt or a call back? How many drs are available within a 60minute dr
My dr sees private patients 2 days a week and research, clinic patients parts of the other days though he will do most of his paperwork on one of those "slower" days. New patients wait about 2-3 months established patients 2-4 weeks. Phone calls are returned that day if he is in the office or within 24 horus if he is not. Within an hour I probably have 20 rheumatologists to choose from but I also leave near 2 major medical schools
OMG i could go on and on about my dr...follow up appointment i have no problem getting for i now only have to see him every 3 months :D But phone calls back? what are those? For example: if i call first thing in the morning the nurse will call be after lunch time to find out whats going on but wont call back untill about 7pm to tell me what the dr is going to do about it. My drs office is about 20 min or so away from me so im happy about that but its the other things i HATE, and when you do have an appointment with him you end up waiting a good hour-hour in a half before you even get into the room then about 45 mins or so before he comes in. But when you do end up getting him in the room he takes as much time as needed with you. He is a talker, so between him and I well its not a good combination LOL. Its nice cause when i do have to bring kelsay into my appointments he takes the time to talk to her and when he is checking my heart and lungs etc he has her help and she just thinks that is the greatest thing in the world. She has said since she has been real little that when she grows up shes going to be a dr to make mommy feel better, so since he has started letting her "help" him check mommy she always says that shes going to work with him when she grows up...Geeze you are lucky to live close to a lot of doctors. Interesting they can't get doc to treat this disease....too complex?
I have one other doctor within an hour's drive (not a good one!either) My doctor is always out on vacation, it seems. This year every month he's been out 2 wks. and we have no other to take his calls only our GPs. I was very sick during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and he only returned my call once. They turn off the phone and or only return calls that they want to return????Who knows.
I never wait long to 'go in to see him' , and his staff is able to answer questions, approve increasing meds such as prednisone. I hate self medicating but I'll take more pred if I need to!
yes, we need to lobby for more doctors to treat this disease! How would we do that? Sarah
We only have two of them here but I have gotten in the same day I call and no longer than a week. He is a super rheumy and good looking as well.My rheumy passed away last month. He was the only one in a 140 mile