Dear Editor,
When people need medical care, they should not assume they must wait weeks or months simply because their regional medical center says no appointments are available. Patients have a right to ask questions, seek alternatives, and learn where timely care may actually be available.
Too often, patients are told only that a clinic is “booking out” without being informed that other hospitals, specialty practices, telehealth providers, urgent care systems, or regional medical centers may have earlier openings. Many people – especially older adults and those with serious medical concerns – do not realize they can call elsewhere, request outside referrals, or ask their insurance company for assistance locating available providers.
Health care systems should be helping patients navigate access to care, not leaving them to figure it out alone. If one office cannot provide timely care, patients deserve honest guidance about other options. Delayed evaluation and treatment can worsen outcomes, increase stress, and ultimately create more costly medical problems.
Patients and families should feel empowered to ask, “Where else can I be seen sooner? Are there other affiliated providers?”
For myself, I would rather drive than wait. After an October 2025 stroke, my husband’s initial vision evaluation was scheduled for July 28, 2026! He was more than 50% blinded, but evidently, vision assessment was not a priority. We drove to Albany, N.Y., for assessment in January.
If I had known in November that the credentialed comprehensive stroke center would not provide timely and effective care, I would have started scheduling him elsewhere and started his post-stroke therapy in a timely manner. But regrettably, they were not transparent about the delay, and therapy did not start until I found an outside agency (Weeks and Gowen Physical Therapy – they are great). He has now graduated from physical therapy with measurable vision improvement. I am left to wonder how much more improvement might have been gained if therapy had started during his subacute phase, as clinical guidelines direct.
Sometimes the fastest path to effective care is not the nearest medical center. Patients must learn to advocate for themselves and not to accept unnecessary delays without exploring alternatives.
Sincerely,
Susan Boyer, DNP, MEd, RN, FAAN
Windsor County resident
Health care proxy