Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Shhhh! Don't Tell: The December Secret

I think I've discovered the secret to getting into hard-to-get-into doctors without a several months' long wait: Just call for an appointment after Thanksgiving but before New Year's. 

Seriously. It worked for me last year, and I got caught by surprise when I called to make appointments with two doctors and a pain clinic this year. In all three cases, I got an appointment in under a week from my phone call despite those doctors/clinics normally booking out months ahead of time. 


I'm a little in shock by it, in fact. 


For the doctors -- my gastroenterologist and rheumatologist -- I called figuring I needed to do so if I wanted to get in before March. Instead, I see one this week and one next week. 


The rheumatologist's booker actually told me that she could fit me in easier this month than in January. 


I guess a lot of chronically ill people make an effort not to schedule appointments during the holiday season. Clearly it doesn't stop me since I had an endoscopy on New Year's Eve last year! :-) I'm hoping not to repeat that adventure this year though.


I guess it only works with doctors who don't routinely take their vacations around the holidays. I've found that my specialists tend to vacation at other times of year, although my internist, who has young children, does take off during the holidays.


Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing if my theory holds up for other people, or if it's just my collection of specialists that are so available this time of year.






 

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