Posted by bleauberry on January 28, 2009, at 16:57:04
In reply to Finding a Doctor - How to Elicit Responses?, posted by ceres on January 27, 2009, at 16:48:47
As you already mentioned, you might have to expand the scope of your search to a larger distance and then plan some strategic way to fit that into your working schedule, maybe using vacation time, sick time, personal time, or scheduling the appointment late in a day so you can leave work just a little early to get there.
You could try writing them and include a self addressed stamped envelope to make it easy for them to respond. State your case on one page, where you've been in treatment, where you are now, and where you want to go. Ask if they feel confident taking your case. You could even state things that are important to you as screening questions, such:
How easy are you to reach by phone?
Can I schedule a rush appointment if something goes wrong?
How would you rate your success at treating patients with similar symptoms as mine?Doctors you do not receive a response from, well, that was any easy way to weed them out. That narrows it down. Some will respond. Take a good look at those. One of them is your winner.
The doctors not accepting new patients, well, you don't want them anyway. There are several reasons they are too booked, most of them not good reasons. For example, the revolving door effect of not getting people well. Or in it for maximum profit rather than genuine medical passion. Or just not enough doctors for the population. None of those things are what you want.
poster:bleauberry
thread:876604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/876839.html