Doctor Shortage

Cartoon by Jean Sorensen

 

I'm off to the physical therapist this morning for the second to last visit for the aftermath of tripping into the bathtub.   Contrary to the cartoon they never make me wait, in fact they scoot me right in even if I'm early.  The problem turns out to be the return visit to my primary doctor. I'm supposed to see her for follow-up for this and a returning infection.  I have an appointment for October 31, Halloween two months away and I had an appointment scheduled for last week.  They cancelled have no openings until the Halloween date, hope they are handing out candy.  I've been waiting for two months to see someone about a possibly cancerous spot on my face, I got moved up two days this week.  It's not just me its happening to many of my friends too.  Doctor shortage?  One son experienced the same thing so perhaps its not just Medicare patients.  Fortunately there is a "Convenient Care" Clinic here run by the same outfit.  No appointment, waiting sometimes an hour, but you get in when you are sick and receive treatment.  I noticed however they are down to two physicians from four and have cut their hours.  My pulmonologist is now running a 6 Sigma program (an efficiency process) at the hospital and is unavailable often for long periods of time.  There has been a new pulmonologist added to his practice though fortunately.

 

A New York Times article dated July 12, 2012 America's Doctor Shortage it says:

"Experts describe a doctor shortage as an “invisible problem.” Patients still get care, but the process is often slow and difficult. In Riverside, it has left residents driving long distances to doctors, languishing on waiting lists, overusing emergency rooms and even forgoing care."  It's a disturbing article.  Living in a small city in a rural area it's true here too.  Yes, I left Seattle to retire here, partly because there were two decent hospitals with associated clinics here.  But until recently if you had a heart event they had to fly you to Spokane, Seattle, or Portland.  The neurosurgeon left and in the time it took to replace him anyone who had head trauma had to be medivaced out the area as well.  Often to Harborview in Seattle.  Medivac insurance is a popular product here.  I see more and more doctor's here from India, all over Asia really, and Romania and the other Eastern European countries; they want to come here and we need them.  Sometimes there are language problems though.  A physician in Seattle from a Middle Eastern country and poor language skills confused my asthma drug Aminophylline with the drug for Amitriptyline, an antidepressant, 300 mg straight across and put me in a coma for a few hours.  No, I didn't sue their socks off, I survived and am much more careful.  I always ask what they are giving me and why.  More reason to accompany your friends and relatives through their hospital visits.

 

I don't have a solution, just pondering.  Tough times.  Meanwhile I keep calling to keep myself on the list for cancellations, or off I go to Convenient Care.  Luckily for me that is only 5 minutes away.  There are advantages to living in a small town.