Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

[luvs2eat]

I've never heard of such a practice! Most of the doc's and dentist's offices where we live (for almost a YEAR already!! woo hoo!!) only book appts. 4 weeks out. That means... like when I called a dentist to make my first appt... there are NO appointments available... please call us back on Monday morning at 8 am when a whole new week's of appointments open up.

I assume there have to be emergencies stuck in there somewhere, but it's kind of a funny practice. I had to REMEMBER to make sure to call at 8 am on Monday morning to get ANY appt. 4 weeks out.

[Cindy]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

I used to ask for a referral immediately from the Dr. and they always somehow found a spot for me! I had to have a referral from my "primary care physician" for my insurance to pay. You might try that. Just tell them you are unable to wait that long so you will accept a referral if your insurance requires it.

I don't know how the dentist would work. My dentist is pretty good and we usually get in within 2 weeks for routine work. He accepts emergencies at any time during office hours and refers us to an after hour emergency type dental office in the evening or weekends.
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[Sabine]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

I usually get into the dentist within a week, if it's an emergency the same day. But I called my primary care doc for an appointment for my yearly physical , I called a couple of weeks ago, and the first available appointment was August 26 !! Yes, of course I took that appointment.
I also have to have referals to specialist from my primary care doc, in order for the insurance to pay . And that can be a pain in the butt.

[Suwannee Terry]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

Never heard of it either. Could the dental/doctor office be getting ready to close/retire? Or maybe, they have had so many cancellation/no shows that they find this way more efficient. There's something behind the action. Most of my providers, both medical and dental, make the next appointment the same day I am in the office. Most of these appointments are a year off. This thread should be interesting .. wondering if any one else has come across this.

[wellsms]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

My dentist, eye Dr, medical Dr all schedule my appointments, anywhere from 3 months to 1 year in advance.

[luvs2eat]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

It's not just the dentist... my new primary doc is the same and the gyno I saw... just seems to be a practice here! The bad part is that you can't plan months ahead cause they won't book the appt!! I don't have to do the PCP and referral thing...

I used to schedule my yearly physical months and months in advance so I could snag her first morning appt. Same w/ the dentist! I used to snag 5 pm appts and had to wait months! Now I have to set an alarm to remind me to get on the phone at 8 am on Monday to snag the time I want... 4 weeks out!!

[Chocolate Moose]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

i have waited more than 4 mos for several doctors. i think it's shameful.

[Suwannee Terry]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

luvs...sometimes these providers have local practices that the whole area seems to follow. i.e. in Pinellas County Florida (St. Pete-Clearwater), the pediatrician only performs circumcisms on newborn boys, in Hillsborough County (Tampa), the ob delivering the baby performs the circumcism. I heard this practice when DD was having her two boys. The pediatrican who explained this said that each area had its own ways and all the doctors followed the common practice. Perhaps in your area, this has become the norm. Can't blame you for not liking it, I wouldn't either!!!!!!!! What a nightmare it must be for the appointment setters in those offices. I would dread coming in on those Mondays. Not to mention the inability to plan my time months in advance.

[Cindy]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

I do schedule my yearly at the time I am ready to leave, so it is made a year in advance. I also schedule my mammogram the same way.

I bet it is because you live in a smaller community maybe??

I thought you were talking about not feeling well and trying to get into see the Dr. I totally misunderstood you.

[luvs2eat]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

i have waited more than 4 mos for several doctors. i think it's shameful.

And then sat in the waiting room for an hour, I'll bet!!

Before my celiac disease was diagnosed, I made an appointment w/ a gastroenterologist. They wanted to schedule me for about 3 months in the future. I said to the girl, "Did I mention that I'm having unrelenting, explosive diahrrea??" She scheduled me for one month later and I sat for 1 hour, 15 min. in the waiting room before seeing the doctor.

I always being a book w/ me and don't mind waiting... I was feeling bad for the peeps in the waiting room who looked like they were in pain or really ill.

[mamafox]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

I know what you mean. I broke my shoulder and had to wait two weeks to get a surgery room and that is for a shoulder replacement. I get it done tomorrow. Shoot by now my shoulder is actually starting to feel better even if it is still dislocated.

[nuisance]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

That's Rediculous. We Schedule Next Years Physical Appt As They Leave. At Dentists Office, They Schedule 6 Mos Follow Up When I Leave.
For My Doc, If You Call For A Physical/well Check It's 3-4 Months From Now. We Can Only See So Many Well People A Day To Get The Sick In. But If You Call Sick, We See You Same Day. And We Follow Up With Most Patients With Health Problems Every 3 Mos. There's No Way We'd Tell People To Call Back Next Week To Get An Appt In 4 Wks.

[Chocolate Moose]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

That's right, it can be a long wait in the waiting room, too. I hate that !

[GayleTX]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

One doctor my husband was referred to recently said they could only schedule 3 mo in advance because the computer was not programed to work any further ahead than that. Good grief!! I think 'somebody' flunked their comptuer class!!

[Carolyn88]

Re: Only booking appts. 4 weeks out??

Our family Dr books well in advance for checkups but other visits are much sooner than that.

This morning I phoned to see if I could get in as I've had a horrible chest cold for a week & it's not going away. I got in to see her before lunch. She was very busy & totally booked up but they slipped me in.

I was able to get an appointment for my DH to see her tomorrow.