Submitted by gooberhoover85 t3_zmwymu in providence
Seriously. I've made so many calls. I feel pretty beat down by how impossible it seems to be to get in to see a doctor. I have good insurance but I can't get referrals or tests unless I get a PCP to see me. Should I look in MA instead? What's the secret? Tell me please!
I found one in Mass. Tristan Medical. Is in North Attleboro. They are accepting patients. I spent a month looking in RI and then gave up and chose the first place to say yes when I asked to be a patient.
I would look through your insurance account! I know for me (BCBS) I was able to go on their website and specifically search for primary care doctors taking new patients
Awesome, thanks for sharing this info! I'm sorry you went through a similar experience. It's after 5pm so most places are calling but I'm giving this a shot tomorrow. Do you mind me asking how you've liked this place so far?
I actually have done this. I've called through 8+ pages of doctors listed as "PCP" and hunting down the correct numbers. I have BCBS too and their list of PCPs seems to be really out of date. It's killing me. I called BCBS and they sent me a PDF of the same list. Most of the numbers are wrong. I'm entering my zip code so maybe that's the problem. I'm surprised it worked so well for you. Possible we have different coverage so maybe that's it? We have BCBS through a company out of Boston.
They are fast and thorough. I am diabetic, so I have bi-monthly appointments. They are open until 8pm. Most of my appointments are after 5pm. I like them. (Edit a word)
That's what several places told me to do but I find that really problematic. I think that would be my last resort but it's good to know if I get desperate. I'm starting to have medical issues and I can actually see it getting to a point that I need to go to the ER anyway. Thanks for sharing this info.
Oh good to know! Thanks again for sharing. First time I've felt optimistic all day about this.
Sorry, when I Google 'CCAP Providence RI' I get Child Care Assistance Program. Not sure I am familiar with what CCAP is.
[removed]
I saw you had another reply. It's not showing on Reddit but I have it in an email. Thanks for sharing. I will give them a call tomorrow and try my luck. Big thanks for the clarification.
[deleted]
Thundermist
It sounds like a fancy name for farts but I'll Google it cause I'm desperate 😂
I just spoke with someone on the phone and they were great. I have to get my previous doctor to send medical records but sounds like once that is done I can get an appointment. Seems reasonable to me. Thanks again.
I went without a primary for like 3 years and they got me in to see a doctor in like a month and theyve been great the past year
That's about how long it's been for me because of pregnancy and moving. It's great to hear how this worked out for you. I appreciate the recommendation. I will check it out.
I wish you the best of luck finding a doctor!!
Try Village Medical. They are accepting new patients
Sorry it’s been such a hassle for you :/ it shouldn’t be so hard to get healthcare
Zocdoc has been really helpful to me in the past. They sort by “accepting patients”
Sara Kent PA on Jefferson Blvd takes a new patient every month - I would try her. She’s part of Brown medical and she’s great!
Awesome!
Do you have to actually wait around in the ER?
Thank you, I agree. I'm imagining it wasn't always like this. It's probably just rotten luck that I'm having to do this search now.
Awesome. I wish they all did that!
Thanks for the tip. I'm making a list of all the places mentioned here and this is on the list now too.
Thundermist!
First look at hospital systems - you can find doctors faster through them
Wait I’m not sure I understand your reply. Maybe I didn’t provide enough context? Zocdoc is a doctor aggregating website that lets you search by the type of dr you need. I hope this clears things up!
I went to family medical in Seekonk and was able to get an appt within a month
Oh, got it. Either way it's on my research list. I have a toddler so when I responded it's totally possibly I got side tracked by dinner, bath time, and pajama party time 😂 all the same that is very useful.
I completely understand. Good luck!
Recently got in at midland medical in Warwick
That's insane. My health honestly can't wait that long but I really appreciate you helping me set some realistic expectations. And I'm very sorry you had to go through that.
Do not go there. They almost killed me. Prescribed me medication I was allergic to and gaslit me when I constantly said I felt ill. They also gaslit me about my iud pain and it turns out it was embedded in my uterus. I now have chronic pelvic pain. I could go on, but they're horrific. I have an emt friend who called them a "chop shop". Try open door health. They're accepting patients.
I found one by calling blue cross and asking them if any pcps under my insurance were accepting patients. Blue cross web site was outdated, when I used that list online, I got rejections as they were no longer accepting new patients.
It's unfortunate you went thru that, but not every doctor there is terrible
My partner got an amazing PCP at providence community health center recently after going through a very similar slog! They have a sliding scale for those without insurance, too, though I’m glad to hear this isn’t a constraint for you!
Thanks! I actually got on a wait-list there. So I'm hoping when I call back they can get me in. I explained my health issue to them so they know it's kind of urgent for me and they seemed really nice.
I found mine through the Lifespan network. It has taken me well over a year to finally get one booked…in March.
Brown Medicine I think. They have new people.
Yes. You’ll have to wait the longest, too. Since the EMERGENCY room is for EMERGENCIES.
South County Medical recently opened offices in Warwick and Cranston. I go to Warwick and really like them!
Well thank you kindly. Hopefully you find a PCP soon and don't have to wait like that! Best of luck.
Southcoast Primary Care (Swansea and probably other locations)
I went to South county health express two weeks ago for a strep test, while there the receptionist noticed I didn’t have a pcp and told me they had one accepting new patients right now, so I booked an appointment for February. Very happy about that, since I have also been experiencing no luck finding one. Give them a call!
I called Care New England and they connected me and my husband to a PCP. It was a 6 month waitlist though but since then we’ve been able to see specialists pretty quickly after. I also made it pretty clear that I wanted to be seen at Womens and Infants so I was okay with the wait.
Good luck!
Thanks, the reasonable amount of time part is key*.
If for OBGYN avoid at all costs. My wife was SA'd there
I'd love to be seen at Women's & Infants. I'll check that out. And I'm totally ok with being on a wait-list. The 6 months wait is kind of bonkers but I'm still going to check it out. Thanks!!
Oh gosh, I'm really sorry she went through that. When I was in the Army I was SAed during a pap smear myself so my heart really goes out to your wife. Definitely a hard no to any gynecologic stuff there. Thanks for the heads up.
They decided a cervical biopsy was needed. She said no and they did it anyway. I'm a doctor myself and I'm outraged. That provider is in jail now but still
That's really fucked up. I also can't stress enough how sensitive the cervix is. For someone to do that is the worst. Glad they are in jail. Hope your wife is doing better now.
She's great and I just handle that stuff for her. No means no and it's a complete sentence. However their convenient care js great
I think they are referring to the Comprehensive Community Action Program. https://www.comcap.org/services/health-dental/
Unfortunately this is happening nationwide so if you can wait for your physical, I’d just get on a waitlist for now for your preferred provider instead of the quickest provider
EtAvec t1_j0dnwwu wrote
In the same boat. Advice I’ve heard is if you go into the ER then you can get a PCP that way because they’ll sign you up on the spot if you don’t have one. Seems to work for people, even though it’s kind of messed up you have to do it that way.