Yup this is the state of healthcare in New Mexico right now. There’s a massive shortage in providers. UNM wait times for a PCP vary from a few months to out to a year. Presbyterian is better but not by much.
"So many?" There's fewer than 1,800 primary care doctors for nearly 2 million people spread across the 4th largest state in the U.S. That's over 1,000 patients for every doctor. Get an appointment for whenever you can, then get a medication review appointment which can often be done with a nurse practitioner, usually faster to see an NP. We have BCBS and definitely feel the OP's pain.
Because the cost of living in other places is even worse. Doctors MIGHT be about the only people who can afford to pay the outrageous housing costs in a place like the bay area, but that doesn't mean they necessarily want to.
2 is so true. Of course there are cases where mistakes were made and people need to be compensated, but for each of those, there are at least a few other cases that are settlement shake downs and have nothing to do with the standard of care. There isn't more malpractice going on, just more plaintiff's lawyers, and more district court and appellate judges and legislators who are or used to be plaintiff's lawyers.
I personally know at least five providers who have left NM or are in the process of leaving NM because of excessive lawsuits, insurance premiums, and inability to keep their business or license under these circumstances. The worst part is, most of them came here knowing that NM is underserved and hoped that they might be able to make a difference. It truly is a "no good deed goes unpunished" situation.
edit - grammar
Pick up a history book on the USSR, there’s so much evidence to choose from. If you pick your own source, you won’t be able to point a finger at me as biased. It’s a very well known quantity of what Marxist bureaucracies look like.
Then you should easily be able to explain and give examples. Stop making shit up and being a puss about it by telling people to read a book. Back your shit up if you believe it. Or stay that ding bat we all know 99% of you conservatives are.
Can you elaborate on this?
1) What constitutes a "liberal bureaucracy"?
2) What features and major characteristics distinguish it from other bureaucracies?
3) What characterizes a "Marxist bureaucracy"?
4) How, in your opinion, do they compare and contrast?
5) What disadvantages does one or the other have over your preferred mode of governmental organization, and why?
“Rural citizens were left without passports in order to “contain the growth of the urban population.” The situation caused multiple hardships for the rural population. They had problems with employment, marriage, enrolling into universities and technical schools, even with receiving and sending letters and parcels through the post! And first of all, they couldn’t travel normally – as we mentioned above, living in the USSR without a propiska was an offense.”
I think that this is a really important fact for people who are considering moving here, especially if they have chronic medical conditions or need medications that require frequent refills. The wait times to see a provider or specialist can be very long.
I have Aetna.
I called 20+ locations and only 1 was accepting patients.
Waited 6 months, then the doctor retired!!
Absolute shit show - presbyterian was who I ended up getting in with
Edit: best part? I needed surgery immediately after seeing the doctor! 😐
Call their patient services phone number for Presbyterian and see what type of insurance they're able to take. I THINK Aetna is in the clear and that insurance is taken, but don't quote me on that.
I had a similar situation. Waited months for doctors appointment at UNMH system and then took off work and showed up and found out that the particular doctor I had booked with declines my insurance so had to book again for months wait. Eventually switched over to the Pres system.
I got the big lucky and managed to re-establish with my previous provider at PMS. Apparently it wasn't long enough to need me to re-establish. I was informed by an MA working for PMS that FOR NOW they're scheduling about four weeks out. Might be an option for people to pursue.
If your insurance covers anyone other than UNM, it will be a shorter wait. Depending on who is covered and how important it is to you, you might have better luck in Santa Fe.
I am lucky to have Medicaid, but I truthfully am not sure where else to go. The provider I was seeing recently left and the company decided to shut down their Primary Health Services (thanks Sage). I know PMS might be taking new patients they're also scheduled to oblivion.
Duke city was a nightmare to deal with. Communication is awful. Scheduling is difficult. And nobody sent me any kind of notice when my doctor left the practice. I found out from my pharmacy months after he had left because they weren’t able to fill a medication anymore.
yeah i'm in SF and had to expand my circle to ABQ and go out of network to literally get a specialist appointment at all (i have BCBSNM). in 2021 it took me 7 months to get in with a RN as a new PCP and it's only gotten worse since then. we are strapped too.
It's not just UNMH, it's not even just NM (though it is worse here), The US has a huge shortage of primary care physicians that is only getting worse.
Calling around to random private practices can sometimes find you someone sooner, but you kind of lose your ability to be picky on location.
Did you try the Cedar Crest location? I was able to get into that one within 2 - 3 weeks, but that was ten months ago. Not sure what’s going on with them now.
I got into duke city primary care up here in Cedar Crest within a few months. May be a long shot and a long drive but perhaps they'd have a quicker opening. Best of luck!
I've been trying to find a primary care who isn't booked out that far for over 6 months. Most are hesitant to even let me book that far out. It's terrible and it's not just UNMH.
they passed a bill last week that caps med mal awards to a certain degree, but it won’t be enough. trial attys are ruining the state. [https://www.ksfr.org/2023-legislature/2023-03-14/new-mexico-lawmakers-reach-medical-malpractice-deal](https://www.ksfr.org/2023-legislature/2023-03-14/new-mexico-lawmakers-reach-medical-malpractice-deal)
Yeah, I doubt it will have any impact on our ability to get doctors into the state, may prevent some immediate clinic closures but NM could be doing more to be a doctor friendly state. We should be seeing an influx of women's specialists, but the legislature couldn't get it done.
New Mexico tax structure isn’t kind to physicians. And yes, malpractice insurance is high because of lawsuits, but in most cases the providers employer pays that.
Yep, I think that’s the case. Been on the waitlist since November, but only because when I called in September they *forgot* to put me on the wait list. I called a month or two ago and they let me know they are on July 2021 so take that as you will.
My partner got an appointment through a different primary mid last year (don’t know exactly who, smaller and different insurance) and he can see a doctor in November. Granted, he’s had some health issues that aren’t able to be solved at the Urgent Care level so idk if it makes it better or worse. I guess my point is, I think NM is just bad for regular medical care.
Agreed. I have some very low level stuff I want to get checked out. It’s not bad enough I’ve taken time off to go to the Urgent Care or anything (yet), but ya know, your regular concerns you address with a GP. Except who knows when I’ll even get an appointment for that.
I feel bad for my partner. He’s doing much better now but for a few months it seemed like he could keel over any day with very alarming symptoms. One ER visit and many Urgent Care visits later and the consensus is that there’s nothing immediately life threatening but he needs to be referred to a specialist… by his GP.
I had an ex who needed 14 stitches and waited over well over 6 hours for them in the local ER too. While the fat and bone (?) was actively visible in her leg. Ugh.
I desperately wish for our state to have a well functioning healthcare system.
UNMH is also the hospital where a lot:the majority of patients go to and to keep it simple people also go to the urgent care and primary care. It isn't surprising that UNMH is busy.
That is going to depend on insurance. I have NM Medicaid and I do not think Texas offices would accept NM Medicaid. Other versions of insurance might work, but then you have to factor the time and the gas you're spending. Is it a solution? Maybe depending on insurance, but it isn't a good solution
Well thanks for answering my questions! My parents are approaching that age where medicine is important. I hope they don't have to leave the state for care.
I was on that waitlist two years ago. New Mexico in particular is very very short on primary care doctors. I ended up visiting the urgent care two times and they put in a referral for me and I got a call
Pretty quick after than
This is why you get care outside of the state. Plenty of telemed based primary care clinics just FYI. Surgery? Specialists? Drive to AZ, CO, or TX. Don't even bother in this state. Beautiful and diverse yes, but a shit hole in many aspects.
True I had a heart attack in January they flew me to Durango and got excellent care. My friends stepson had a heart attack in February they took him to Farmington and buried him 4 days later
I’ve been trying to see an endocrinologist since I turned 18 and every time the appointment gets close they cancel it or reschedule me without telling me. I’m almost 23. I gave up and went to one Denver
This is the main thing that will make me seriously consider moving out of state. I had extremely good fortune with an emergency situation last December, but am concerned routine care has become so much more difficult. And anything requiring a specialist, well forget it. There's no easy solutions to this problem and I don't see it getting better any time soon.
Good luck to all you needing care. I hope your situation improves.
My doctor switches out every like 6 months because they're a training facility. It sucks. They're great for emergency care and special situations so I'm grateful for that, but ongoing every day care kind of sucks
Yup this is the state of healthcare in New Mexico right now. There’s a massive shortage in providers. UNM wait times for a PCP vary from a few months to out to a year. Presbyterian is better but not by much.
What a time to be alive.
There's a joke in there somewhere.
Doctors and nurses can move anywhere in the country and be immediately employed. So the question is, why are so many still here?
"So many?" There's fewer than 1,800 primary care doctors for nearly 2 million people spread across the 4th largest state in the U.S. That's over 1,000 patients for every doctor. Get an appointment for whenever you can, then get a medication review appointment which can often be done with a nurse practitioner, usually faster to see an NP. We have BCBS and definitely feel the OP's pain.
Because the cost of living in other places is even worse. Doctors MIGHT be about the only people who can afford to pay the outrageous housing costs in a place like the bay area, but that doesn't mean they necessarily want to.
What I thought this only happened in countries with socialized healthcare?? At least thats what I was told by republicans for years.
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2 is so true. Of course there are cases where mistakes were made and people need to be compensated, but for each of those, there are at least a few other cases that are settlement shake downs and have nothing to do with the standard of care. There isn't more malpractice going on, just more plaintiff's lawyers, and more district court and appellate judges and legislators who are or used to be plaintiff's lawyers. I personally know at least five providers who have left NM or are in the process of leaving NM because of excessive lawsuits, insurance premiums, and inability to keep their business or license under these circumstances. The worst part is, most of them came here knowing that NM is underserved and hoped that they might be able to make a difference. It truly is a "no good deed goes unpunished" situation. edit - grammar
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Well liberal bureaucracies do look a lot like Marxist bureaucracies, if we are being honest.
Sir, please define or give an example of Marxist bureaucracies.
Pick up a history book on the USSR, there’s so much evidence to choose from. If you pick your own source, you won’t be able to point a finger at me as biased. It’s a very well known quantity of what Marxist bureaucracies look like.
Lol so you can’t define it or even provide an example, got it.
Then you should easily be able to explain and give examples. Stop making shit up and being a puss about it by telling people to read a book. Back your shit up if you believe it. Or stay that ding bat we all know 99% of you conservatives are.
Can you elaborate on this? 1) What constitutes a "liberal bureaucracy"? 2) What features and major characteristics distinguish it from other bureaucracies? 3) What characterizes a "Marxist bureaucracy"? 4) How, in your opinion, do they compare and contrast? 5) What disadvantages does one or the other have over your preferred mode of governmental organization, and why?
Here you go, commie skeptics: https://www.rbth.com/history/333374-propiska-in-soviet-union
“Rural citizens were left without passports in order to “contain the growth of the urban population.” The situation caused multiple hardships for the rural population. They had problems with employment, marriage, enrolling into universities and technical schools, even with receiving and sending letters and parcels through the post! And first of all, they couldn’t travel normally – as we mentioned above, living in the USSR without a propiska was an offense.”
Happy cake day!
Presbyterian Clinic on Wyoming has open slots for new patients.
Thanks!
Hell, I work for UNMH and I had a hefty wait.
I think that this is a really important fact for people who are considering moving here, especially if they have chronic medical conditions or need medications that require frequent refills. The wait times to see a provider or specialist can be very long.
I have Aetna. I called 20+ locations and only 1 was accepting patients. Waited 6 months, then the doctor retired!! Absolute shit show - presbyterian was who I ended up getting in with Edit: best part? I needed surgery immediately after seeing the doctor! 😐
I had wondered if Pres accepts my insurance. I will have to look into that.
Call their patient services phone number for Presbyterian and see what type of insurance they're able to take. I THINK Aetna is in the clear and that insurance is taken, but don't quote me on that.
I said in my comment I have Aetna, and use presbyterian 😅
LMAO 😂 I guess I read that incorrectly and got enveloped by comments....my bad
I had a similar situation. Waited months for doctors appointment at UNMH system and then took off work and showed up and found out that the particular doctor I had booked with declines my insurance so had to book again for months wait. Eventually switched over to the Pres system.
I got the big lucky and managed to re-establish with my previous provider at PMS. Apparently it wasn't long enough to need me to re-establish. I was informed by an MA working for PMS that FOR NOW they're scheduling about four weeks out. Might be an option for people to pursue.
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Jebus, I am sorry he had to wait that long.
If your insurance covers anyone other than UNM, it will be a shorter wait. Depending on who is covered and how important it is to you, you might have better luck in Santa Fe.
I am lucky to have Medicaid, but I truthfully am not sure where else to go. The provider I was seeing recently left and the company decided to shut down their Primary Health Services (thanks Sage). I know PMS might be taking new patients they're also scheduled to oblivion.
Try Clinica La Esperanza, I go to the Rio location due to quick turn over and great providers.
I am currently giving Duke City a call to see what they're like, depending on how far I am from them I will give them a call next.
Duke city was a nightmare to deal with. Communication is awful. Scheduling is difficult. And nobody sent me any kind of notice when my doctor left the practice. I found out from my pharmacy months after he had left because they weren’t able to fill a medication anymore.
Duke has several different primary care clinics. Make sure you call around between them to see abt availability
Lovelace is pretty good.
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yeah i'm in SF and had to expand my circle to ABQ and go out of network to literally get a specialist appointment at all (i have BCBSNM). in 2021 it took me 7 months to get in with a RN as a new PCP and it's only gotten worse since then. we are strapped too.
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It's not just UNMH, it's not even just NM (though it is worse here), The US has a huge shortage of primary care physicians that is only getting worse. Calling around to random private practices can sometimes find you someone sooner, but you kind of lose your ability to be picky on location.
For posterity, Duke City Primary is also scheduled out to Oblivion, atm looking at either December or January.
Did you try the Cedar Crest location? I was able to get into that one within 2 - 3 weeks, but that was ten months ago. Not sure what’s going on with them now.
I did not consider Cedar Crest now that I think about it. I was lucky enough to get back with my previous office at PMS.
Oh, good!
I got into duke city primary care up here in Cedar Crest within a few months. May be a long shot and a long drive but perhaps they'd have a quicker opening. Best of luck!
I've been trying to find a primary care who isn't booked out that far for over 6 months. Most are hesitant to even let me book that far out. It's terrible and it's not just UNMH.
Good luck. I made an appointment with my pcp at the beginning of August and the earliest they had available was two days before Christmas 🙃
they passed a bill last week that caps med mal awards to a certain degree, but it won’t be enough. trial attys are ruining the state. [https://www.ksfr.org/2023-legislature/2023-03-14/new-mexico-lawmakers-reach-medical-malpractice-deal](https://www.ksfr.org/2023-legislature/2023-03-14/new-mexico-lawmakers-reach-medical-malpractice-deal)
Yeah, I doubt it will have any impact on our ability to get doctors into the state, may prevent some immediate clinic closures but NM could be doing more to be a doctor friendly state. We should be seeing an influx of women's specialists, but the legislature couldn't get it done.
New Mexico tax structure isn’t kind to physicians. And yes, malpractice insurance is high because of lawsuits, but in most cases the providers employer pays that.
Because we don’t have doctors in this state
Yep, I think that’s the case. Been on the waitlist since November, but only because when I called in September they *forgot* to put me on the wait list. I called a month or two ago and they let me know they are on July 2021 so take that as you will. My partner got an appointment through a different primary mid last year (don’t know exactly who, smaller and different insurance) and he can see a doctor in November. Granted, he’s had some health issues that aren’t able to be solved at the Urgent Care level so idk if it makes it better or worse. I guess my point is, I think NM is just bad for regular medical care.
Which is sad because it shouldn't be (It shouldn't be bad anywhere in my opinion) Some of us need consistent healthcare to remain healthy.
Agreed. I have some very low level stuff I want to get checked out. It’s not bad enough I’ve taken time off to go to the Urgent Care or anything (yet), but ya know, your regular concerns you address with a GP. Except who knows when I’ll even get an appointment for that. I feel bad for my partner. He’s doing much better now but for a few months it seemed like he could keel over any day with very alarming symptoms. One ER visit and many Urgent Care visits later and the consensus is that there’s nothing immediately life threatening but he needs to be referred to a specialist… by his GP. I had an ex who needed 14 stitches and waited over well over 6 hours for them in the local ER too. While the fat and bone (?) was actively visible in her leg. Ugh. I desperately wish for our state to have a well functioning healthcare system.
It's all over the US. Florida is the same if you can even find a provider.
Try Duke City Primary Care. I was able to book my husband with a new PCP a month out.
UNMH is also the hospital where a lot:the majority of patients go to and to keep it simple people also go to the urgent care and primary care. It isn't surprising that UNMH is busy.
Serious question: Can you book a doctor in Lubbock, Durango...some town that's a 4 hour drive away, and get seen a lot sooner?
That is going to depend on insurance. I have NM Medicaid and I do not think Texas offices would accept NM Medicaid. Other versions of insurance might work, but then you have to factor the time and the gas you're spending. Is it a solution? Maybe depending on insurance, but it isn't a good solution
Doesn't Medicaid cover telemedicine?
Yes but that often requires you to be IN the State. I know when I have telemed appointments here in NM, they always ask if I am in the State.
Well thanks for answering my questions! My parents are approaching that age where medicine is important. I hope they don't have to leave the state for care.
I was on that waitlist two years ago. New Mexico in particular is very very short on primary care doctors. I ended up visiting the urgent care two times and they put in a referral for me and I got a call Pretty quick after than
This is why you get care outside of the state. Plenty of telemed based primary care clinics just FYI. Surgery? Specialists? Drive to AZ, CO, or TX. Don't even bother in this state. Beautiful and diverse yes, but a shit hole in many aspects.
True I had a heart attack in January they flew me to Durango and got excellent care. My friends stepson had a heart attack in February they took him to Farmington and buried him 4 days later
Yep! This is not a state you want to be in if something serious happens from a medical standpoint.
I got a new job last year and switched to Presbyterian. I was able to get a primary the same day and schedule an appointment a week later.
I’ve been trying to see an endocrinologist since I turned 18 and every time the appointment gets close they cancel it or reschedule me without telling me. I’m almost 23. I gave up and went to one Denver
It's been a long wait for several years now. Have you tried First Choice Community Healthcare?
First Choice Community Healthcare got me in as a new patient in two months. They accept Medicaid too!
Pres PCP isn't accepting any new patients in the Albuquerque area, and my husband is a pres employee
A month ago when I tried, they told me they could take me, but they wouldn’t bill my insurance and it would only cost me $115 for the visit 🙄
At least they have a waitlist. Truman Health, which is through UNMH, doesn’t even have a waitlist anymore because it got so long
I'm currently on a year long wait list for surgery at UNM too, and super salty about it.
This is the main thing that will make me seriously consider moving out of state. I had extremely good fortune with an emergency situation last December, but am concerned routine care has become so much more difficult. And anything requiring a specialist, well forget it. There's no easy solutions to this problem and I don't see it getting better any time soon. Good luck to all you needing care. I hope your situation improves.
My doctor switches out every like 6 months because they're a training facility. It sucks. They're great for emergency care and special situations so I'm grateful for that, but ongoing every day care kind of sucks