I, would like to question why annual appointment have to be done 4 months in advance. Research shows that appointments made well in advance, above 4 months will have more of a tendency to be missed. It is written in medical history that the "lack and breaks in communication between the primary-care physician and the patient will raise the missed appointment percentage level or booking quantity".
Last year, I could not schedule an appointment prior to a 4 month booking block, which pushed me into the next year coverage plan, so I was forced to book a year in advance. I then had to go to another doctor for my annual checkup which forced me into the quality control given by walk in service with staff under study practice and unknown credentials. For 2009, I had tried to get an appointment in Aug with staff and was only given the option for a Jan opening.
For this year, 2010 I had accidently noted my electronic appointment books as Sept 14th rather than the 13th. I am a mother and a business owner and was heartbroken with knowing I had missed the appointment time. I can be reached on my cell phone at any time. My doctor during the 80s, would contact me in person to verify my arrival and also do an annual base check for contact link accuracy to make sure direct contact was operational.
With flight itineraries which are qualifying close to the scope of Doctors appointments which are very stressful of the unfriendly nature, there is a on-line record with a follow up purchase receipt giving in the mail and an email upon purchase. At the most a patient has a detached business card or a voice on the phone line which is detached from the appointment schedule and must be hand held before fixed to the working calendar. There is no electronic record.
It might be helpful to understand the importance of the schedule undertaking, I and my daughter cannot schedule the same day or time frame of appointments even though we are now planning our appointments a year in advance. I understand the staff is only following a calendar which has limitations, but this calendar is very unfriendly and places the patient in the mind set of being unwanted, unimportant and a bump in the line. My appointments have become out of mind, out of sight, one missed, your tagged as a fault miss-appointment case, go to the end of the line. When leaving an annual appointment, staff will not attempt to place the next years appointment in the books as an automatic service, a patient must ask for scheduling.
Both Springs in 2009 and 2010, I was attacked by the Lyme ticks. Diagnosed in 2009 with Lyme, I was given treatment, but no follow up plan. I was then again attacked this spring with all the symptoms and could not get an appointment but was given a prescription over the phone. I have come to the conclusion that there is not enough time or energy for my health follow-up needs with my current family practitioner. I catch a few words with my doctor when I bring in my daughter for her needs.
I am at a cross roads of needing more than just an one hour appointment window a year for my health concerns at my age of 52. My daughter can get scheduled within a two week to a month window however I cannot be seen prior to a 4 month wait. When I ask for a cancellation window opening or be on call for an appointment, I am refused. No direct contact to my doctor is given.
If appointments are made with such tight restrictions, it will reflect in non-compliance and absent visitations. I feel very bad about the missed appointment, and I understand that I cannot beat myself up concerning it. There is grand lack of contact which I have with my practitioner who should understand and follow my welfare but in turn is over worked and over booked. My health care is prepaid and there is no incentive for service to be provide. We all know the medical staff is over worked and the fault is not in the service end but in the system of which they follow.