As the title indicates, I’ve been trying to get my sister who I’m an advocate for into a popular doctor’s office. This doctor is known to work with people who, like my sister, have multiple disabilities and some specific chronic health conditions. It’s incredibly difficult to find a doctor who is familiar enough with intellectual disabilities, and who also feels motivated to take care of patients with the specific multiple complex medical needs like my sister’s.
I’ve been trying to get my sister into this office since January. First, they told me to call back in March. Then in May. In May the medical assistant didn’t respond to my calls (which were simply to ask if there’s availability. I also promise I wasn’t rude, I only left my name, my sister’s name, and a little info about her diagnoses and asked for a call back). I was even told that this doctor prioritizes or makes exceptions for adults with intellectual disabilities. In June after I emailed the office asking for a reply, they called me and said there’s no room. I asked if there was a waitlist. They said they would call me back and let me know. They never called me back.
Today I went in to drop off a letter with photos and used a script my friend who works in a health care office wrote - basically just nicely saying that my sister has a complex medical picture and we’d really appreciate the opportunity for her to see a doctor who specializes in what my sister has. I asked the front desk to deliver it to that doctor and that doctor only. Instead, I get a call an hour later from a supervisor who says they aren’t taking new patients. I asked if the letter could get to the doctor specifically, and the supervisor said they would give it to her. But honestly since I’ve experienced the “we’ll call back and let you know” with them at least 4 times now, I feel skeptical about if she will do so. The supervisor also said there’s no waitlist and to just call back once in a while to see if there are spots. But I’ve been doing this.
I don’t want to be entitled because I know there are other folks who are seeking high quality care and many need it just as much. However, I feel frustrated that to this day I’ve had zero contact with the doctor herself and the staff have either ignored my calls, not gotten back to me, or today read the letter even though I said it should go to the Dr. specifically and no one else, and never even gave it to the doctor (she’s on vacation rn). I will genuinely do anything to get her into this office. The doctors she’s had already have said absurd things, or don’t respect or understand the cultural component, or don’t understand her disabilities. Like I said, this is the one doctor I’ve been able to find who has the specialties my sister needs.
Is there anything else I can do to try to speak to the doctor herself? I don’t want to burn bridges with the office staff lol. But I would also like to speak to the doctor herself bc I think that is my sister’s best chance of getting in since the doctor is known to have a soft spot for adults with intellectual disabilities. Or, does anyone have any suggestions for my best shot moving forward for how to get onto this doctor’s panel? Again, I have followed up every few months, called, remained kind and acknowledged how busy the office is, etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
TL;DR: busy physician who specializes in something specific that my sister needs. Having trouble speaking to the dr to get my sis in as a new patient. Is there anything else I can do to try to talk to the physician or get my sister in?
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