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Does anyone else have difficulty scheduling your follow up appointment

Posted by cnicole @cnicole, Apr 22 11:49am

I'm on my second round of follow-up appointments with Dr. Stan in MN. The first one I ended up just getting tests done in my home town and sending him the disks because I couldn't get an in-person visit scheduled for him and it was wayyyy past my check up time. I couldn't schedule the scans without an appointment with him. It was an endless cycle. The disks ended up with bad imaging and he said to have future scans at Mayo....which is what I tried to do to begin with. I saw him in November of last year and even with bad imagining he felt comfortable with a 6 month follow up. He put on my chart that I couldn't make an appointment until June 19th (past 6 months). I was told to call on March 25 to schedule. I did and he had nothing. They put me on a waiting list, but I haven't heard anything. I call about every week to make sure I haven't missed anything, but it's always he's out for education, procedure week, etc. Not that I don't think those things are important, but so is time when it comes to cancer. Has anyone else experienced this issue and if so, any suggestions on how I can navigate this more efficiently?

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Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Apr 22 12:37pm

cnicole @cnicole
Very frustrating, I have been in your situation. I have visits that are rechecks once year and usually get a portal msg telling be to call. Unfortunately, many others get same message at same time. Sounds like your doing everything possible.

Next time you call to ask, ask when his calendars will open up for future appts. Or, if you are willing to see another provider in same area, ask about availability with someone else. If can get in with someone else, they can order scans.

Wish you luck,

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1 reply
cnicole | @cnicole | Apr 22 12:50pm
In reply to @roch "cnicole @cnicole Very frustrating, I have been in your situation. I have visits that are rechecks..." + (show)
@roch

cnicole @cnicole
Very frustrating, I have been in your situation. I have visits that are rechecks once year and usually get a portal msg telling be to call. Unfortunately, many others get same message at same time. Sounds like your doing everything possible.

Next time you call to ask, ask when his calendars will open up for future appts. Or, if you are willing to see another provider in same area, ask about availability with someone else. If can get in with someone else, they can order scans.

Wish you luck,

Jump to this post

Thank you! If I don't get anything this week, I will call to see if I can see someone else. I hate to do that, but I feel that waiting is not the best option.

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Apr 22 2:32pm

@cnicole I've had similar problems in setting up follow-up appointments but that was in different departments. I see a nurse practitioner for my cancer surveillance appointments and I get a message on the portal telling me that the calendar is open and to call for an appointment. I always do that right away. I did see another provider (nurse practitioner) when my provider wasn't available one time and I felt that appointment went very well and was comprehensive for me. Since you have a time frame when you are supposed to follow up it does make sense to ask if another provider is available for you. Will you let me know what happens with making an appointment?

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1 reply
cnicole | @cnicole | Apr 22 2:41pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@cnicole I've had similar problems in setting up follow-up appointments but that was in different departments...." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@cnicole I've had similar problems in setting up follow-up appointments but that was in different departments. I see a nurse practitioner for my cancer surveillance appointments and I get a message on the portal telling me that the calendar is open and to call for an appointment. I always do that right away. I did see another provider (nurse practitioner) when my provider wasn't available one time and I felt that appointment went very well and was comprehensive for me. Since you have a time frame when you are supposed to follow up it does make sense to ask if another provider is available for you. Will you let me know what happens with making an appointment?

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your advice and sharing your experience 🙂 I will ask to see someone else when I call back next Monday. My hope is I get a message early Monday morning with an opening for Dr. Stan. I watch it every Monday morning 🙂 I will definitely follow up to let you know how it goes. I appreciate you.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Apr 23 7:02am

With 12 years of experience at Mayo MN we have found that different specialties operate with differing ease of scheduling. If you can find a useful secretary for Dr Stan, ask how many weeks ahead their schedule opens up. That tells you when to call for appointments. Having a local referral can speed things up. I agree that timing is important with cancer care, but over the years I have found that many appointment schedules slip a month or two longer routinely. It seems to be even harder now. Be persistent and I hope you can find that great staff member who goes above and beyond to get you scheduled.

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1 reply
cnicole | @cnicole | Apr 23 8:05am
In reply to @sepdvm "With 12 years of experience at Mayo MN we have found that different specialties operate with..." + (show)
@sepdvm

With 12 years of experience at Mayo MN we have found that different specialties operate with differing ease of scheduling. If you can find a useful secretary for Dr Stan, ask how many weeks ahead their schedule opens up. That tells you when to call for appointments. Having a local referral can speed things up. I agree that timing is important with cancer care, but over the years I have found that many appointment schedules slip a month or two longer routinely. It seems to be even harder now. Be persistent and I hope you can find that great staff member who goes above and beyond to get you scheduled.

Jump to this post

Thank you! 🙂

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