01-19-2008, 08:56 PM
yes, the "not taking new patients" situation is serious. None of the doctors who take my insurance are taking new patients. And I have asked every one I meet working at a health care facility if they can suggest anyone, and they all say no.
People are moving here in droves but doctors are moving away. The population is getting older. Do the math.
I read that Hawai`i's malpractice laws are causing doctors to move away, that and the relative cost of living in proportion to income. It's all very well for the state to help out with insurance coverage, but it's an empty assistance if no one takes the insurance.
Then the ER can't function properly either because people have to go there for problems that could easily be dealt with in office visits, if people could get appointments.
Then there's the specialist issue... wait til you get told you have to fly to Oahu to see someone. The Big Island no longer has either a neurologist or a rheumatologist, I know for sure. The rheumatologist comes here periodically, but only sees new patients in Oahu.
I had a hand injury that needed surgery. There is a hand surgeon who comes here, Dr. Singer, but I couldn't wait a month until his next visit, so I had to fly to Queen's, pay over $100 for a room the night before, plus an inter-island ticket, none of which was covered, plus the co-pay of $600 or so. (Including $250 for two scripts they handed me while I was still woozy, not covered by my insurance because the hospital dispensed them)
I met one young woman with a chronic sinus infection who got referred to an ENT specialist here on the island. She was referred last summer and the first appointment they could give her was MAY 2008. That is just beyond my tolerance.
My little grandson has now been medivaced to Oahu at least a half dozen times because pediatric crises here are handled at Kapiolani on Oahu, not here on island. Same with pregnancy complications and preemies.
Don't kid yourself. This is not paradise when it comes to medical. It is brutal.
If I do move away from the islands, it will be because the medical system sucks.
ed to add --
if you've been here for awhile and are nicely established with a physician, you may well not have any idea what it's like trying to get established, here and now. My doctor cut his practice ... yes, they can do that, and close their doors, and leave you in the cold. Five years ago when I moved here I got a primary care physician without much looking, but due to the practice trimming, here I am, looking ...
I found one doctor taking new patients, but I had to answer a series of questions, like a job application. If he likes the answers he may accept you. Among the "no's" were -- no back pain, no neck pain, no one on any kind of pain medication. It sounded like he was screening for drug users, and I get that drug seekers are a pain. But the questions weren't designed to separate drug addicts from non addicts. A lot of people have some kind of chronic pain, and it's kind or rough that a doctor won't see you if you hurt ...
As it happens I'm not on pain medication, and assured them I'm not looking for any, but they still didn't call me back. Sigh.
People are moving here in droves but doctors are moving away. The population is getting older. Do the math.
I read that Hawai`i's malpractice laws are causing doctors to move away, that and the relative cost of living in proportion to income. It's all very well for the state to help out with insurance coverage, but it's an empty assistance if no one takes the insurance.
Then the ER can't function properly either because people have to go there for problems that could easily be dealt with in office visits, if people could get appointments.
Then there's the specialist issue... wait til you get told you have to fly to Oahu to see someone. The Big Island no longer has either a neurologist or a rheumatologist, I know for sure. The rheumatologist comes here periodically, but only sees new patients in Oahu.
I had a hand injury that needed surgery. There is a hand surgeon who comes here, Dr. Singer, but I couldn't wait a month until his next visit, so I had to fly to Queen's, pay over $100 for a room the night before, plus an inter-island ticket, none of which was covered, plus the co-pay of $600 or so. (Including $250 for two scripts they handed me while I was still woozy, not covered by my insurance because the hospital dispensed them)
I met one young woman with a chronic sinus infection who got referred to an ENT specialist here on the island. She was referred last summer and the first appointment they could give her was MAY 2008. That is just beyond my tolerance.
My little grandson has now been medivaced to Oahu at least a half dozen times because pediatric crises here are handled at Kapiolani on Oahu, not here on island. Same with pregnancy complications and preemies.
Don't kid yourself. This is not paradise when it comes to medical. It is brutal.
If I do move away from the islands, it will be because the medical system sucks.
ed to add --
if you've been here for awhile and are nicely established with a physician, you may well not have any idea what it's like trying to get established, here and now. My doctor cut his practice ... yes, they can do that, and close their doors, and leave you in the cold. Five years ago when I moved here I got a primary care physician without much looking, but due to the practice trimming, here I am, looking ...
I found one doctor taking new patients, but I had to answer a series of questions, like a job application. If he likes the answers he may accept you. Among the "no's" were -- no back pain, no neck pain, no one on any kind of pain medication. It sounded like he was screening for drug users, and I get that drug seekers are a pain. But the questions weren't designed to separate drug addicts from non addicts. A lot of people have some kind of chronic pain, and it's kind or rough that a doctor won't see you if you hurt ...
As it happens I'm not on pain medication, and assured them I'm not looking for any, but they still didn't call me back. Sigh.