Can't get an appointment: Any tips on what to do?

I’m very sorry to hear this, but unfortunately it happens often and has happened to me as well. I had an unexpected opportunity to be seen in a different department but also needed and obtained a referral to Neurology at Mayo and they even declined an internal referral.

It’s my understanding that Neurology at Mayo is one of the most high-demand specialties at Mayo.

I know it’s hard now, but I hope you don’t give up. Mayo isn’t always the end-all, be-all, as much as the marketing and rankings would push that narrative.

Is the physician working with you now within an academic medical center? If not, is there one in your area where you can go? At other academic medical centers, the wait may be long, but you can often self-schedule an appointment.

For example, I looked into Cleveland Clinic. My PCP submitted a referral for me to be seen in Rheumatology and they called within a week to offer me an appointment. They also have a program called the “National Consultation Program,” which might be of interest to you, and their website highlights opportunities for virtual care: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/community-care/depts/national-consultation-service

But if you haven’t ruled out options closer to home yet with academic medical centers, it may be worth looking into while you’re also trying to be seen at larger organizations. Wishing you the best.

That is very fortunate news to hear. It can be frustrating to want and appointment but not be the only one looking for an appointment. It takes perseverance and patience (not patient) to get the right place!

Another reality is, once your accepted oto one specialty clinic... You still have to apply the same amount of energy, emotion and determination to get any any other specialist.... with absolutely no help or assistance from the people your already seeing. They have all the empathy in the world and are amazing medical front line workers. Unfortunately, you'll end up outside Mayo completely for all needs... The effort to get that accomplished was long a difficult and disheartening.. Mayo has incredible medical Care!
Unfortunately the battle is getting the 'system' to recognize you as a person with a name... And not a number or a statistic that Mayo says they successfully treated.

NEXT ??!!!

Mayo Is Great Medical Care just temper your expectations and don't stop looking.....Ever for alternatives. The struggle for ongoing TIMELY medical care after a major life saving procedure....beyond the one specialist and PC.

The journey is hard enough as it is.....still.. after you get in.

You Are Your Own Best Advocate!!!!

I wonder what the Mayo brothers would see if they saw this behemoth of an organizations from a patients point of view...?

I looked into the Mayo Clinic Care Network and the closest one is almost 500 miles away. I would figure out a way to go 500 miles to the Mayo Clinic, but cant take that chance on something less specialized.
It would be nice it it didn't say "Request an Appointment" on a page where a clinic is closed. I was told Headache is "at capacity" so why no put it on your webpage and not give us false hope.
I have tried to get in a couple times over the last couple years without luck. The first time they took a ton of medical info from me and said a provider would review it and get back to me in a few days as it would take a while for it to have a thorough review and I heard back like an hour later so I knew it wasn't likely reviewed much at all. This time they didn't ask for anything, just said at capacity.
I get the "at capacity" part as I worked in healthcare. But now that I can't work, I feel abandoned by healthcare. I have been trying to get my headaches controlled for 12 years. And they keep getting worse with new headache types. There just isn't anyone who can help and it is demoralizing.
Sorry to rant, just wanted to give you the "not accepting new patients" idea.

@sanderson23, I get the rant, no apologies needed. It is a gut punch when appointments aren't available.

Did you see that there is a support group specific to headache? I invite you to join the discussions here:
- Headache & Migraine group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/headache-migraine/

Thank you for this link, I will definitely spend some time in that discussion,.
However, I will say that the very first post I saw was someone from 6 days ago with what sounds like a very similar problem to me (although I am sure ther are differences I don't know about) who is excited because they just got into the Headache clinic in Phoenix.
Now, that has pushed me over the edge. I was told that the Headache Clinic "is at capacity" and that was apparently a lie. Maybe they didn't like my insurance.
I read another post that I don't think was on the headache page but that I read linked off of it, that someone said that they were going through a long process trying to get in and then suddenly got in because their local doctor knew the specialist at Mayo and called them and they got right in!

I really don't like the preferential treatment, the discrimination, the lies. I am really considering if I should continue trying to get in or not based on all of this. Might not be a good place for me.