DOCTOR, MAY I? GETTING PERMISSION TO SEE THE DOCTORS YOU WANT TO SEE

How would you feel if you were not able to call a doctor that you want to see and make an appointment for yourself or a loved one? If you think about this happening somewhere overseas, it may be, but it’s happening here, too. In fact you would probably have more success booking an operation abroad yourself than you would a doctor appointment here.

I had not even fathomed such a thing could ever occur. Last year I called and scheduled an appointment with a specialist I wanted to see. I did not have to contact a doctor, namely the gate keeping primary care physician, to make this possible. Nor did I have to “get permission” to get an appointment for my body scan. My HMO does not pay for some providers I seek, but I am able to make appointments that I think are best for me.

I found out something new today as I was scheduling appointments for my father. I called doctors that he wanted to see and some new ones. Some of his current doctors have lost (if they ever had any) common courtesy and kindness, plus they were below par to him. So he wanted to change to doctors with courtesy, kindness and expertise. Of the four doctor’s offices I called this Friday afternoon, only one allowed me to make an appointment for him without another doctor’s referral. Hmm...doctors accepting patients referred by doctors only.

This practice of “doctor referrals only” seems quite unethical and unhealthy and untimely for patients. I am at a loss for words. I’ll have to write more about this later. Doctor, may I?