Physical appointments

[torontoguy22]

I was just wondering how long it usually takes you to schedule a physical with your family doctor? It took me about 5 weeks to get an appointment, and just yesterday my doctor cancelled because she's no longer working in the evening. Now the next available time is April 4. I think this is a bit ridiculous, and am really looking for a new doctor.

How long does it normally take to schedule a physical?

 

[Orlandude]

This is a GP?? Two to three weeks tops. If you are being made to wait 5 weeks (which IS ridiculous!) , I would find another doctor. Obviously, he doesn't need your business. It is not uncommon to wait a long time for a specialist, depending on the kind of specialist. But waiting 5 weeks for a physical with a General Practitioner is crazy.

 

[SilverRRCloud]

Thanks Lord for this place here.

The house Doc on call, if you really get sick and have fever and stuff like that, so you need a doc at your place is here within an hour. I am not talking any emergencies here.

My GP is mostly available on the same day or in the worst case, the next working day.

The very same applies to my dentists.

Essentially, a friend of mine here says, I get this royal treatment due to the very fancy health plan I carry. So, it sounds like, the doc dudes are so much after hard cash these days that they automatically reschedule less-paying patients in favor of the guys with fancy insurance policies.

Frankly, I feel that this, should it be true, is a terrible practice.

But then, who said we live in just world?

And maybe, just maybe, there ought to be some sort of a special reward for the guys, who are willing to toil more than the others.

Dunno?

SC

 

[rinehart]

wOW!
I am fortunate. I got to see my doctor for a physical the next day. He has added another doctor to the practice and he plans to retire in the near future. He has been my doctor for 16 years. Maybe the tenure helps. O

 

[upyrkilt469]

I have a complete physical every year and make the next year's appointment the day I have this year's. Besides that I have to see my
GP every three months, so I have no difficulty in getting appointments.

 

[drhladnjak]

If a doctor is so booked up like that, it's probably a sign that he or she has too many patients. Finding another doctor is a not a bad idea. Then again, my doctor usually can schedule me within 1 or 2 days of calling for just about anything, which makes me think he's not particularly popular. Doctor's offices do spread out appointments though. They tend to leave wholes in the schedule for more urgent conditions that will come up later. Physicals tend to be very low priority since it's just something you should have done every year and not at a particularly specific time.

 

[Sunseeker]

Just had mine Tuesday. They call me to schedule an appointment.
As for a regular office visit, if I call in the morning they can usually see me the
same day. The office is very efficient I'm never waited more than 5min in the
reception area.

I'm fortunate to find such a great GP

Sun in Indianapolis

 

[3nipples]

If it's an emergency I can see my doctor the same day including weekends, otherwise I usually call for an appointment two to three days ahead of time.

 

[rotary]

Ontario is suffering a doctor shortage with over a million people who can't find a family physician. You'll probably have to wait regardless of who you're seeing.

 

[Phkem]

Well, if something is wrong, don't wait 5 weeks.

If it is just routine, sometimes things are crazy in the winter months. Routine patients occasionally get shunted around because of all the sickies running around needing to be seen.

That said, I can usually get in to see my doc the same day (if he's in clinic) or a partner of his (if he's not) if I NEED to be seen, or within a week if it is something non-serious. 5 weeks is pushing the realm of patience, especially if they rescheduled YOU. It's one thing if you canceled and had to reschedule...

 

[Spiff]

Physicals, in the U.S. at least, tend to be a joke. They consist of getting your blood pressure, blood sample, urine sample (maybe), the doctor examining your genitals (maybe), and having you fill out a questionaire. That's about it. Most people could do this stuff at home. Heck, even the blood test. Family practitioners just send the samples to a lab anyway, really any quack is qualified to give a "phsical examimation."

So if you have a tumor growing inside without any side effects, nobody will know until its too late at a later stage. Every physical should include a chest xray and a CAT scan of major organs. It may be more expensive to the insurance companies, but physicals are really pointless without them including more thorough examinations.

 

[jockboy01]

Five weeks for a routine physical is actually pretty standard. Sometimes longer. If it is something wrong, you shouldn't have to wait that long. But physicals are something that is not considered urgent or emergent and so there is really no rush to get you in in a "reasonable" amount of time. If it's been a year without a problem, what are the chances that something is going to be found today in a healthy individual that if not corrected in the next five weeks is going to be detrimental? Not good. So if you like your doc, I'd stick with him or her and just wait. If there is something wrong, you should tell them that and they'll make the appointment sooner.

Every physical should include a chest xray and a CAT scan of major organs.

You've got to be kidding!! There is no evidence that these are cost effective first of all on a screening basis. Second, they aren't totally harmless as they do involve radiation. And lastly, you'd run into all sorts of benign things going on that you'd be obligated to work up even though they're probably fine. And this could expose you to unneeded surgery and all kinds of things. It's far better to do the tests that have been proven to help outcomes than making blanket statements. Next thing you know, people will be demanding head to toe CT's and MRI's.

 

[torontoguy22]

Ya, my Family Doc is good when it comes to spontaneous illnesses (colds, strep, etc). I can usually get an appointment the same day. But the wait for the physical seems a bit long. I really do think my doc has too many patients.

Can anyone recommend me any good Toronto family physicians

 

[3nipples]

^^ You could try Dr. Sheila Lewin near the Eglinton West subway station if you don't mind a woman doctor of South African origins who looks and sounds a bit like Dr. Ruth.

 

[oz_doc]

So if you have a tumor growing inside without any side effects, nobody will know until its too late at a later stage. Every physical should include a chest xray and a CAT scan of major organs. It may be more expensive to the insurance companies, but physicals are really pointless without them including more thorough examinations.

This is terrible advice, for many reasons apart from the issues with the tests as noted by jockboy above. It is quite clearly recognised by clinicians that a little over 90% of all illnesses are identified and diagnosed based on the history the patient gives, around 9% are diagnosed based on the physicians examination of the patient and fewer than 0.9% are discovered using any test or investigation eg bloods, chest x-ray/CT. Your advice would expose millions of patients to costly and hazardous investigation, reveal countless false positive findings to be investigated, cost hundreds of millions of dollars in unneccesary tests and there is no credible proof or even reason to suspect it would produce better outcomes for patients.

 

[winterknight]

I know the system here is a bit different to how it works over the pond, but our local surgery guarantees an appointment the same day if it's an emergency (ie if you've got something wrong NOW that needs to be sorted), or within 2-3 weeks for a "checkup" or follow-up appointment.

Of course, I would rather saw my own leg off than have anything to do with them, but that's just my personal neurosis.

 

[bluedragon4]

Ontario is suffering a doctor shortage with over a million people who can't find a family physician. You'll probably have to wait regardless of who you're seeing.

I just wanna say you are really cute(if that's your pic) but I hardly ever go the doctor. I haven't seen a doctor in maybe two years? I am a very healthy person plus the last physical I got seemed like nothing. When I was a kid the dr went to town on me. he looked at everything. I'm actually starting to think he was a perv cause he even stuck a finger up my 15 year old ass! as an adult I never had that done(by a dr on duty that is )
How much does the dr do during one?

 

[wraithsa]

Welcome to the REAL world
canada is running at a shortage and has been for the last 20yrs
hense the influx of fereign trained physicians in this country
HOWEVER despitr the shortage government and provincial legislature has made it increasingly difficult for quailified physicians to enter and stay in the country
Combine that with the fact that Canada health now suggestes a PERIODIC medical and not the ANNUAL general medical exam anymore its a case of dont blame the doctor - if u want to bitch - try complaining to ur local MP

 

[jockboy01]

think he was a perv cause he even stuck a finger up my 15 year old ass! as an adult I never had that done(by a dr on duty that is )
How much does the dr do during one?

Yes, without symptoms, a rectal on a 15 year old is excessive. What gets done depends on the health and age of the patient. Then there is the blood work if due... like cholesterol. But it is hard to generalize to an entire population.

 

[wraithsa]

Its phrases like this that make me laugh (or else i would be crying)

[quote/]Every physical should include a chest xray and a CAT scan of major organs. It may be more expensive to the insurance companies, but physicals are really pointless without them including more thorough examinations.[/quote]

A physical examination should include - a thougher history , examination and APPROPRIATE specialist investigations (CT is really OVERKILL). Under examination all major systems should be covered and examination of the abdomen MUST included the genitals and a rectal exam IF patient is the appropriate age. Special investigations are TARGETED to keep track of current diseases and to screen for common diseases or those which come up on asking family history of illness.