Hi @carolinekernahan, that is impossible to answer as the wait times depend on many things including the medical urgency as well as the availability of appointments. You can contact the Children's Center at Mayo Clinic. They should be able to give you a time estimate for your appointment with your child.

Mayo Clinic Children's Center
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center
855-629-6543

I assume it varies (just as Colleen mentioned), and you could call and ask. They’ll tell you what they can.

But I dunno, I would have liked more information because the process seems so opaque. If you’re thinking about the “Request Appointment” process that’s all over the website:

If it helps any, I’ve submitted a few appointment requests through the regular appointment request option online—two were requests from my doctor and one from me (if you’re wondering, only one of the above was granted). One possible benefit of faxing the request or working with your doctor is we were able to submit the maximum number or clinical notes allowed attached to the referral to support my case. But it’s hard to tell if it made any difference, though it helped for when I got there.

In my experience, it took just a few days, definitely less than a week to be offered/declined an appointment, but it took longer to hear back on the denials because they sent snail mail, or you can call to inquire. When I was offered an appointment, they called. My situation was non-urgent, so the appointment was 3 months out. But I think that also depends on the department.

Ultimately, I got into a different clinic that allowed self-referrals—meaning I called, they asked me a few screening questions, concluded it was appropriate to see me, and they put me on a waiting list they told me was about one year in length, but I got a call in 7 months for an appointment 3 months later. I feel like that last situation was unusual though.

Good luck to you and your child.

I was on the wait list for along time then when I told them im on Medicare Advantage they took me off the list they dont take my insurance. So now I get no help and have to live with the pain because Medicare is taboo

IROC

Hi Caroline,
I signed in online and filled out the form. I did not have a referral from my nephrologist. My condition is very specific and I am close to going on the kidney donor list. They gave me an appointment on the first call. I'm going next week. It's a 7-hour drive but Mayo diagnosed and treated my brother with a rare vasculitis when other doctors in the Chicago area could not. I had to try and maybe was lucky to get the appointment. I hope you succeed in getting the appointment.