How to skip the wait for a doctor

April 10, 2011 3:55 PM

How can I get a quick appointment with a medical specialist? I have gastroparesis and it has recently gotten bad - I am significantly underweight and I am continuing to lose weight because I am not able to take in enough calories. I have gone to a couple of generalist gastroenterologists before but they didn't help me at all. I found some gastroparesis specialists a couple hours away from me, but the next available appointment isn't until the summer. I have done some research and haven't found any other nearby doctors with this specialty. Does anyone know of a strategy I can use to get an earlier appointment?

On a related note, any ideas of how to get in to see therapists (psychologists) who are not currently taking patients?

posted by hijol to health & fitness (8 answers total)

You need a primary care physician who can refer you to specialists he has relationships with. If a doctor says you need an appointment soon, the specialist's office will make it happen (as opposed to giving you an appointment soon based solely on your say so).
posted by telegraph at 4:04 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

In addition to what telegraph suggests, ask the specialist's office to put you on the cancellation list -- they should keep a running list of people to call when someone cancels an appointment, so that you can be offered an earlier slot (though it may be fairly last-minute).
posted by scody at 4:06 PM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Try zocdoc - it's pretty easy to use that to filter out doctors who have availability in the near future.
posted by jourman2 at 4:57 PM on April 10, 2011

I have had success with both having someone from the primary care doctor's office call on my behalf, as well as the primary care doctor calling their contacts. If you can be flexible, getting on the waiting list is a good idea, but it may help if you actually call yourself each morning to see if they have a cancellation.
posted by maxg94 at 5:49 PM on April 10, 2011

As a specialist's receptionist, I have to say, do NOT call every morning, unless you are exceedingly charming. You really don't want to annoy the person who answers the phone by pestering them.... especially when they probably won't be able to say anything other than "you're already on the cancellation list."

Having your primary care physician calling to make the appointment is the absolute best way to go. (The PCP's receptionist is ok, but the doctor him/herself is better.) But I'd add that your doctor doesn't necessarily need to have a prior relationship with the specialist. If they do, great, but if not, that's also fine. Have the doctor call, and the specialist's office will make it so if at all possible.
posted by equivocator at 6:35 PM on April 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

It doesn't sound like you've got a PCP. Get a PCP. Maintain a relationship with that PCP. They'll get you in to see a GI if you need it; they'll get you to a psychologist if you need it.

It sounds like you've had diagnosed problems with gastroparesis for a long time. If it's not under control, if it requires medication, if it has flare-ups, you should be maintaining a relationship with a GI doc in addition to your PCP. It doesn't matter if they haven't helped you before; pick the one that you've seen that seems best, and get started on regular appointments with that doc.

What's your weight/height? How much did you weigh, say, a week ago? A month ago? Do you have a poor appetite, or are you vomiting? How frequently are you weighing yourself? Are there any other health conditions you have? Are you on any medications? If so, what?

I've never seen anyone admitted to the ED for starvation, but it can be done, and there are things that hospitals can do to deal with or get around gastroparesis, so if it's time for that, do it. There are also things family practice docs can do, if it can wait a week.
posted by nathan v at 1:01 AM on April 11, 2011

@ equivocator - I actually had the receptionist tell me to call every day for cancellations. I should have said that in the reponse.
posted by maxg94 at 6:24 AM on April 11, 2011

Thanks for the answers! Good news: I got an appointment in a couple weeks!

For reference, I talked to the doctor's office manager and asked if there was any way I could get an earlier appointment because I am losing weight. She said I could get on the waiting list, but also mentioned that I could talk to the doctor and if he gave the go ahead she could squeeze me in. I asked for the latter option, and after I talked to him for about a minute he gave the go ahead.
posted by hijol at 6:52 PM on April 12, 2011