[Zeke]

Doctors in offices can't even be reached anymore. I call and get a VM and some menu. I understand why. But if they do call me back sometime in the first day, which is rare, I can ask about that appointment I'd make and they tell me 2-3 months.

No, I immediately go to the doc-in-the-box about a 1/2 mile from me when at home, or if it's urgent enough to not go to the ER but needs attention anyway, I just hit the closest one. They are all over the place. I've been sewn up more than once, had stuff removed from my eye, been given percoset on a Sunday morning when a tooth has gone off the charts and more. Always excellent service as most of these cats are trained in emergency medicine.

And if you do need to go to the ER, they call ahead for that 'direct admit' that Toby mentioned. You know, if a doctor calls the ER, they pretty well know you're not some loser with no insurance trying to get some meds for the flu. Waiting 8 hours in the ER is for chumps.

If there are tests indicated, sometimes the DITB will see me by appt in 3 days. Other times the results are sent to the internist that clears me for surgery or checks me out thoroughly once a year. The office doc is good for the annual and he is the one that will stop by your room and collect money if you land in the hospital.

Overall, pretty useless but the DITB doesn't do the annual.