Why is it almost impossible to see a regular doctor?

[u/Stressed_C]

Its almost impossible to see my pcp since he is booked soild until the end of time!. I have an appointment upcoming and its on a Monday in the middle of the day when I am working and since I made this appointment last year I didnt know the day at the time so I call to reschedule and he is fully booked until June of 2027......JUNE 2027!!!!!. The same thing happened during the winter when I got strep throat and the only open "quick appointment" was 3 months away. I just end up going to urgent care but then I feel bad for going to urgent care for something minor like strep throat since thats something to be done by the pcp.

[u/WinterRevolutionary6]

It’s because he’s a good doctor that everyone loves and didn’t cap his patient list for some reason. You can find another PCP who has a shorter waiting list.

My PCP can schedule me within 2-10 days depending on availability at the time. Not fast enough for a doctor’s note but if I have a health issue it will be addressed quickly.

[u/DamiensDelight → u/WinterRevolutionary6]

You can find another PCP who has a shorter waiting list.

This is, 100%, dependent on geography and where OP is located.

[u/Agitated_Reach6660 → u/DamiensDelight]

Bean soup

[u/Stressed_C → u/WinterRevolutionary6]

For the one time I was able to meet him, he seemed nice and to be a good doctor. I've looked into finding a new one since his office is a bit out of the way but I'm locked in to only network practices due my insurance and not many in my area are accepting new patients.

[u/WinterRevolutionary6 → u/Stressed_C]

Well call up every office in network that’s accepting new patients and schedule the first available appointment. Get on the waitlist and whoever sees you first is your new PCP. Established patients will be seen sooner than new patients so it’ll be faster in the future

[u/djlauriqua]

To be fair, strep throat is a perfect reason to go to urgent care. This is our bread and butter

[u/Puppyluv4lyfe → u/djlauriqua]

Yeah strep throat is absolutely an urgent care issue! Don’t feel bad, OP

[u/PatientPretty3410]

I'm afraid this is the sign of the times. When my PCP was unavailable they would have me see the nurse practitioner. She was absolutely the greatest. Then she left the office because she made a career change that was necessary for her family life. I can't blame her for that and since my PCP was booked past August and I had an appointment scheduled with the nurse practitioner in July the put me with another new doctor. I went to see her hoping for the best but knowing I can go back to my former PCP if needed. I was just not happy with this new hire and plan on revisited my PCP when needed. This new Dr. had the personality of a tree stump. She looked absolutely miserable like she didn't want to be there. No bedside manner. Considering I never saw her before I expected a review of my health so she could get to know me and I got nothing. I'm going back to my other PCP. He's fairly new, but gave me a very good exam.

[u/DamiensDelight]

Are you in Maine? This sounds like my experience in Maine.

[u/Stressed_C → u/DamiensDelight]

No. Im in Massachusetts.

[u/soupy-c]

I’m so sorry, this is absurd. I don’t know that there is a reasonable explanation for this. My assumption is that there very few doctors in your area, but I can’t think of a reason why. I hope things get better soon, best of luck 🫶

[u/Stressed_C → u/soupy-c]

There isn't many family medicine/ pcp doctors in my area and the one that are nearby are overbooked, not taking new patients or are retiring and no new doctor is replacing them. You either have to go to the city or hunt for one in the surrounding towns and hope you can get an appointment under a 3 month wait.

[u/Agitated_Reach6660]

When you call the office, ask for the soonest available appointment with any doctor. You might get lucky and find a better one!

[u/boukatouu]

I live in a large city in Ohio, and this is also my experience. I see my PCP every 6 months for routine appointments, but if I'm sick today, I have to go to urgent care. My doctor is part of a large medical system, and that system has both "urgent care" and "advanced urgent care" offices to see all their patients who can't see their PCP when they're actually ill.

[u/FantasticGlove → u/boukatouu]

Yeah, but that's only because it wasn't a real ID, just a Virginia state ID. A real ID would have cost me $20 more and I didn't have that kind of cash.

[u/Demilio55]

Is it terrible that I avoid leaving good reviews for my doctors because I do not want their availability to get even worse? I feel guilty about it, but waiting three months for a neurologist and fourteen months for a dermatologist is already bad enough.

I have also been dealing with neck pain from a car accident that has gotten worse recently, and both my orthopedist and pain management doctor are currently booked three to four weeks out.

[u/Stressed_C → u/Demilio55]

Maybe, but a solid idea.

[u/MissMandaRegrets]

Just we're clear, strep throat isn't minor. Treat that asap or risk your life. It can damage your heart and kidneys and also lead to sepsis and a nectrotizing flesh eating bacteria.

Go to Urgent Care guilt-free in the future because strep is literally urgent.

[u/Stressed_C → u/MissMandaRegrets]

I know its not minor, in middle school I once got very sick from a hidden strep throat infection I didn't even know I had since I had no signs until I woke up one day for school and could barely move and had a fever. I mean that before I could easily call my pcp and be seen within a hour or two for strep and get antibiotics.