What do do? Can't find a doctor!

[snappyturtle]

We live in a town with oodles of yellow pages listing many doctors. My husband needs to see one...injured foot and he's a home builder. He lived here thirty years but his doctor has retired. Now we're trying to find a new physician and I have been calling all over town plus the hospital here for a list of doctors taking new patients. Here's what get when I called the three, three mind you, taking new patients: 1) what kind of insurance do you have? (We have none but have enough to cover getting a splinter out of his foot, I'm sure.) 2) We have to fill out forms asking about medications he's on etc. and then they'll let us know in a couple of days IF they'll take him 3)Not taking anyone over the age of fifty! My husband is 56. I told the last one that I'm having real difficulty finding a doctor and that my husband is uncomfortable and needs to see 'someone' and she just repeated what she had told me and said it would only be a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder people use emergency rooms. Any ideas? I hate to tell hubby when he hobbles home no one wants him for a patient.

[Joanne98]

1. Not taking anyone over the age of fifty? geez

[snappyturtle]

11. Can you believe that? I'm 61 so I'm really out of luck! When online

I couldn't believe the number, taking new patients or not, that don't accept Medicare or Medicaid. And really it's is amazing because many folks come here to retire. Guess they should think twice about that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. isn't there a law against refusing someone on age?

[Control-Z]

31. Aren't there laws

that protect people from age discrimination?

[snappyturtle]

35. I was so taken back when told that I froze! Never have heard of

such a thing outside of pediatrics and geriatrics. Going to look into it.

[Ilsa]

34. That is crazy! That is when most of us need docs! I would complain to your

local hospital administrators. They are going to see a huge drop in business if they don't find some geriatric doctors to work there.

Pssst. If it is been over ten years since his last tetanus, make sure he gets one.

[kjackson227]

2. I think the ER is probably your best option...

at least he'll get medical help right away... or at least in 5-6 hours.

[monmouth]

3. Unfortunately the ER is the only way to go. My son had a similar

situation, said the ER took him at once, worked on his foot (also) and he was out of there in 15 minutes.

[pkdu]

4. Doesnt help in the long term...but take him to urgent care center

..that thing can go septic. ( Urgent Care should be under different heading in phone book)

Cheers
P

[WeDidIt]

5. But socialized medicine will result in healthcare rationing and a bureaucratic nightmare!

Like we aren't already living a nightmare.

[snappyturtle]

10. Yeah, this is nuts. Glad it's not critical but still he's uncomfortable

enough to know he needs to see a doctor. Which is huge for him. We're being interviewed to see if they'll take us!!

[MADem]

6. Find an urgent care clinic for the foot, then "apply" to a dr. NT

[JenniferJuniper]

7. Agree with the others - ER.

Also, I don't know if your state allows those CVS/Walgreen's Minute Clinic places, but I've got a co-worker who has used them a couple of times and swears by them.

[snappyturtle]

23. It's an idea...I'll check! Thanks! nt

[snappyturtle]

36. I looked into it. None at Walgreens and CVS only has Minute Clinics

in Dallas area, Austin area and Houston. Austing is the closest at 130 miles. But thanks so much for the info. Could come in handy when traveling!

[Warpy]

8. An urgent care center will take care of his immediate problem

and an ER will have to do if you don't have a walk in urgent care facility in your area. They'll dig out whatever it is and prescribe stuff so it doesn't get any worse. Updating his tetanus shot might also be a good idea.

However, he's going to need to get one of those three docs to see him after his foot is taken care of, just to get on a patient list should something worse happen. I'd go with the guy who asked for a med list.

[snappyturtle]

9. Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately our urgent care sucks and closes in

an hour anyway. So I guess the ER is the best for him. He did this days ago...not infected just deep...not redness or anything. He's resistant to docs so that is why we didn't go sooner but his foot is painful. Unfortunately, all the docs asked for meds and then two days wait to hope they'll see him. I am flabergasted...would never have believed this in my wildest dreams. They're picking and chosing who to see and not to see!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. at this stage g o to the ER

but write to your state reps and tell them what happened. You could also post it on the Obama's healthcare site.

[snappyturtle]

28. I Googled and Googled but all the health care sites I found for

the President and the White House didn't seem to have a place for me to tell them of my dilemma. What am I missing?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. go to your congrssman's advice session

or make an appointment

[Warpy]

20. That's exactly why you need to play along

and get him seen after he goes to the ER/urgent care.

Once he's in the door as a patient, he'll have an easier time the next time something happens.

[timeforpeace]

12. Might be an ER situation whether you have a doctor or not.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. Wow, not taking anyone over 50!

Medications he's on--filling out that form makes sense. The doctor doesn't want to give him something that could have a serious reaction when another scrip would do. The insurance--well, some doctors are "in network" for some companies and not "in network" for others--and that can make a difference on whether or not you have to pay out of pocket. Of course in your case it doesn't matter, but this might be why they want to know what insurance you have.

As for not taking anyone over 50--if they are GP, that's age discrimination!

Too bad you aren't in northwest Arkansas--one of our new patients tomorrow is 89.

[snappyturtle]

22. Oh they're very specific on their websites and on the phone which

insurance companies are 'acceptable'. The meds thing is fine when you have an appointment but not before as a pre-requisite to getting an appointment. The age thing has me really pissed. I rarely use strong language like that but it fits! I guess I have to make an appointment (this if for me), fill out the usual forms and history and 'chat' with the doctor about what I don't know so that I have a doctor I can call on. I am not a happy camper.

[Cleita]

14. Go to the ER first. The hospitals usually have social workers so ask to speak

to one. He/she will be familiar with health services in your community and may be able to make other suggestions as well as to insurance or other options.

[snappyturtle]

27. I called the hospital's automative system that told me which doctors

along with their specialities that are accepting new patients. So, if we were to go to the ER I'm certain I would get the same dead end list.

[david13]

15. We have an "urgent care clinic" near here where you can walk

in, pay cash and get a good doctor, with no insurance.
But you are right. For a regularly scheduled over the phone with a new doctor, without insurance, you will never get in. "Oh, no insurance, ah, we don't have any appointments til next month, call back then."
So look for one of those, walk in, urgent care, etc.
Good luck.
dc

[Born_A_Truman]

30. That's what I would suggest.

Urgent care. Years ago there used to be community clinics/free clinics. When I was a single mom unable to afford insurance, I would take the girls there. Always got great care.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. Call your senator and congresspeople and tell them your dilemma

put it in the local newspaper that you have been refused care.

[otohara]

18. I Never Tell Dr.'s About My Meds

especially if a visit is something totally unrelated to the meds I take and why I take them.

Age discrimination runs ramped in this country - I got fired because my new boss preferred the pretty, young thing without the cane.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. I have insurance

Granted it is high deductible with a co-pay. The last time I saw a doctor was in 1996 at a minor emergency clinic. Last time I had any routine or preventative care was probably in 1991 or so. At this point I can't even produce medical files because my previous doctors have long ago died, retired and relocated. Maintaining those old paper records for a long gone patient through several ownership changes hasn't exactly been much of a priority.

I know someone else who was uninsured, and needed an evaluation for a disability claim. He had been seeing and making full and timely payments to a doctor who gave him a specialist referral. Specialist refused to see him even when he offered to prepay fees for all anticipated charges, x-rays, blood work and other tests weeks in advance. In essence, the specialist denied this fellow the ability to secure the very documentation he needed to pursue his disability claim.

What is happning in our health care system shold be criminalized. Most states have statutes on the books that require that all patients be charged the same fee for medical services. But our spineless politicians and government regulators haven't done anything to enforce that legislation. The over 50 restriction should be considered impermissible age discrimination. And the application based on medical history should be considered a possible violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

[snappyturtle]

25. I so agree with you. You brought up a point I forgot....one said "if"

they acccept my husband he'll have to pre-pay before he sees the doctor. Wish hubbie could pre-charge.

[SeeHopeWin]

24. Yes - Emergency Room!!!

Then later when the bills come, apply for charity discount, you will get a HUGE discount.

[snappyturtle]

26. We're not destitute but we can no longer pay for insurance.

It's priced itself out of our range....let's see...eat vs health insurance; pay mortgage vs health insurance. We had a ten thousand dollar deductible with a 70/30 pay out...that was the cheapest we or our independent agent could find and it was just too much. I've paid into healthcare all my life and now when I'm getting to the age of needing it, the price just keeps growing. I'm hoping for better results tomorrow. Husband just got home and is OK but needs some help.

[Hekate]

29. Your hubby has a puncture wound? (the splinter) Make sure he gets a tetanus shot asap--at the ER

Damn I'm sorry. Best of luck.

Hekate

[Blue-Jay]

32. Why didn't the retired doctor refer his clients to someone else?

Or did he?

[snappyturtle]

37. My hubby moved away, out of state, for five years and then came back to

find out his doctor was gone. That's when we met!

[Mojorabbit]

33. Urgent care center will be way cheaper than the ER

My hubby is a family practice physician and has a waiting list of people who want to be a patient.
He just can't see anymore people in a day than he already does. When there is an opening family members of current patients are first on the list. There are spot shortages of doctors in many places in this country.Best of luck.

[noamnety]

38. Does your area have 211 service?

If so, call that number (like 911 except for situations that aren't urgent life or death, but still somewhat crisis related.)

They're run by United Way and they've probably done all the research on this sort of thing so you don't have to tear your hair out trying to duplicate all that research yourself.

[snappyturtle]

39. Thank you! Never heard of that service before this. I found out we

don't have clinics at our CVS or Walgreens so maybe this service can help.

[noamnety]

41. If they are able to help you, I'd love to know.

I've recommended them a couple of times to people, but I haven't had to call them yet - I'm hoping they are as helpful as what I've heard.

[snappyturtle]

42. Unfortunately, 211 was of no personal help. But I can see where

it could be a great aid for people in real need. We can afford somethings healthwise. God help us though if one of us becomes truly ill. Thanks for your efforts! :hi: