Readers of this blog may or may not know that I am married to a retired family physician. He and I have been married for almost 50 years, and I went through the entire medical school “experience” with him, from 1975-79, followed by his residency and subsequent practice of medicine, until he retired in 2012. Additionally, I worked in public relations in medicine-associated places, including in a long-term care trade association, then at a physical rehabilitation hospital (you will find references to that in my writing), and finally retired from the New York State Office of Medicaid Inspector General.
In other words, I know a bit about how the medical system works. And how it doesn’t.
We’re on Medicare now, and it mostly works okay. However, I find myself right now without a primary-care physician. After having had the same PCP for nearly 40 years, I’m trying to find a new one. My PCP, who just turned 70 herself, deserves to retire. She’s been an awesome doctor for me. She listens to her patients and has been one of a kind, in my opinion. She personally called pharmacies on the Sunday I was diagnosed with Covid19 to ensure that one of them had the antiviral I needed (Paxlovid would have interacted with another prescription I’m on).
She’s a peach. She leaves a big stethoscope to fill.
Knowing she was retiring, I began looking for a new physician in November. I went online and looked for those physicians listed as “accepting new patients.” I made a list and began calling. Six of the twelve I contacted said the large health system’s website was incorrect–they were NOT accepting new patients. I finally got a new provider, and was anticipating an appointment for February 1, 2023. I had all my ducks in line.
And then…I discovered that I will be traveling to Kansas City, Missouri, for a folk music conference that week. The large health system now uses a central appointment system; one cannot just call and office and make an appointment anymore. I called the central appointment system to indicate I needed to change the appointment from February 1. “Well, then,” the person said, “I won’t be able to get you a new appointment until July.” “JULY? What am I supposed to do until then? Who will renew my prescriptions? What if I get sick?” “Well, since we are only the appointment system, we cannot give you medical advice, but you might consider going to urgent care or the emergency room if you’re sick.”
I went back to the drawing board–back online. I made what I thought was an appointment with another physician for NEXT MONDAY, January 9. A MIRACLE! I received a call from that physician’s office manager: “Ms. Fischer, I’m sorry to say that we’re not accepting new patients at this time. We’ve been trying to get [large medical system] to remove the ‘accepting new patients] indication from their website for months. I am so sorry for this.” I told her that I was sorry that she was put in this position by the large medical system, and this is not her fault.
Last night I left a message on the large medical system’s consumer line and explained the situation. This morning, a woman named Stephanie called me and I explained the entire situation. She said she would help me get in to another practice soon.
I emphasized my background and knowledge of medicine, as well as customer service. I also explained to her that some other 74-year-olds might just get completely discouraged and would begin mis-using the healthcare system by clogging up emergency rooms when they become ill. I told her it’s not just about me, that it’s a failure of the large medical system to consider the ramifications of their inattention to details on the (ahem) elderly population. Many people in my (our?) age group don’t know their way around computers or medicine. It’s confusing, to say the least.
She seemed surprised that I was concerned not only for myself but also for other people who might be in the same boat. (Writer’s note: The physical rehabilitation hospital where I was once director of public relations is now part of said large medical system.) She promised she will call me back and let me know what happens.
Stay tuned…
Kudos to you for advocating for others, Wanda! I hope you get an appointment with a great doctor, so you don’t have to keep shopping. I was upset when my doctor retired because he truly cared about his patients and knew about my condition (he was the one who discovered it), but I found they had a nurse practitioner who was amazing and accepted my holistic ways as part of her care for me. Unfortunately, she left that system and went to another one too far away from me. I’m now seeing another doctor in that office for wellness check-ups, but I go to my holistic doctors for everything else. Fingers crossed for you!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thanks, Yvette. I always think that if a physician’s spouse is treated this way, how is the average person on the street treated? Granted, my husband’s retired, but it still aggravates me that this huge medical system that sends me retirement checks every month (not big ones, but they still send me a check) can’t assist me in finding a primary care doctor. We don’t even have holistic practitioners here. The closest one is about two hours away in Vermont. But I will speak out for people in my age group who get frustrated and who will be forced to mis-use the emergency room (and sit for hours on end trying to be seen) or just not get any care at all. Something’s gotta give!
Hi, Wanda,
I applaud you. Your medical system is beginning to sound a lot like the system we have here in Germany. But I am thankful, that German law requires so far, that doctors be open to patients needs.
I hope the woman calls you back soon with good news.
All the best.
Shalom Aleichem
Thanks, Pat. Nothing like bureaucracy to stymie people of (ahem) a certain age. We Baby Boomers are being blamed for all sorts of things. We should also get credit for speaking up about injustice. That’s part of the reason I’ve worked so hard all my life for Civil Rights and the rights of women, for example. I will not be silenced, no matter what the injustice is! Have a great weekend!
Hi, Wanda. Thank you for advocating for others who can so easily get lost in the system. I know people my age who are not computer literate in the least. We still have issues with some of our doctors (at least Bill does), but I’m the one who gets upset at what I perceive to be incompetence on the part of the staff. You’ve certainly clarified something about the large medical systems with centralized everything for me. Perhaps that’s why an important appointment for Bill was scheduled on a day when the doctor wasn’t scheduled to be in. I hope you find the perfect primary care physician quickly. Eager to hear whether that woman got back to you. Blessings!
Patty
http://www.ptlperrin.org
My goodness, Wanda, what a story of frustration. Good for you for patiently navigating that mess, and for advocating foe others, too! You have certainly had a varied and impressive career and possess a wide set of abilities, too Wanda. Hope you find the perfect PCP soon!
Hi Wanda, I feel like you and I are kindred spirits! I too have run into problems with the medical system, not only for myself, but for my elderly mom as well. It’s beyond frustrating! Also, I tend to think about how such issues impact other people – especially the elderly, as they are often less comfortable with computers and cell phones than younger folks. By the way, I sure do wish we would have known each other when I lived in Guilderland. I bet we would have had a ball! Enjoy your weekend.
Donna M Atwood
D M Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Your story represents the sad shape of our U.S. medical system. I find myself limited by the list of acceptable doctors through United HealthCare. I will be part of the Medicare system in two years, and I’m not looking forward to this. On an optimistic note, my husband finds it easier to find doctors through Medicare than through our current insurance.