Scheduling Fail

On Monday my brain fog was intolerable. First thing Tuesday morning, I called my doctor's office to make an appointment to deal with my depression. But my doctor didn't have any appointments available for the next 3 weeks!

What about the physician's assistant or the nurse practitioner, I asked. Oh, they're no longer working there. Apparently my doctor's office has recently undergone an organizational change in which 2 of the 3 medical staff left. (Already down from 8 staff 5 years ago.) But they can get me in on Thursday with the brand new nurse practitioner who just started working there at the end of October. *sigh* Less than 1 month on the job. Okay, I'll take the appointment.

I slept on it and decided that I was kind of pissed off. Back in the day, my doctor's office was well staffed, their service was high quality, and I could get an appointment same day or next day in most cases. Now my PCP is scheduling 3 weeks out??? I don't like this.

So I went on a quest to find a new PCP and/or psychiatrist.

A coworker recommended a doctor's office he goes to. They have twelve physicians and 6 surgeons on staff, plus an array of assistants and nurses. Perfect. I called for an appointment, but they're not accepting new patients. I wonder, how can an office with so many providers not be accepting new patients?

I tried again to contact the psychiatrist I'd called before. He's no longer accepting new patients either, nor are the other two psychiatrists in the same office. They are scheduling appointments out to the first of the year, and that's only for existing patients. The secretary recommended I seek out a mental health nurse practitioner, because apparently psychiatrists are few and far between in my town.

Coincidentally, later that day the same coworker gave me the name of the mental health nurse practitioner his wife sees. He says she's great and his wife has had a positive experience, even getting help with med management and counseling during her two pregnancies. Super perfect, that's exactly what I want! So I call. And once again... not accepting new patients. She's scheduling existing patients out until February.

After being denied by multiple providers, I felt pretty deflated. How can it be so hard to get help? Is it too much to ask for an experienced doctor who provides quality service with flexible availability? I don't remember it being like this 5 or 10 years ago.

What I really wanted was quality counseling therapy, possibly combined with medication. But if I'm going to get long-term treatment, I want the counseling to be long-term, not the medication.

Instead I'm forced to keep the appointment that pissed me off with the brand new nurse practitioner at my existing PCP's office. They will freely prescribe me something, likely without asking about my history or my future plans, and without offering counseling services. This isn't what I wanted, but it's all I've got. I can't wait any longer.

The appointment is tomorrow.