I recall with yearning the old days (a couple of years ago) when I had expensive health insurance and any old time I called a doctor I got an appointment pretty fast. The only real problems I had were my eyes, and my ophthalmologist was a good one, and when I called I got an appointment in a day or so. Now, with still-expensive insurance but a different insurer, I can hardly get a primary care doctor. The one I picked apparently isn’t taking new patients, so I’ll have to pick again for a PCP. Then, I called another one for an appointment (lady’s doctor), and was told no appointment was available until Christmas Eve. Since I needed to see one, I tried several other facilities, and finally was given an appointment with someone. I’d specified that I preferred a female.

So then I hung up, and looked up her name. She is a midwife, and looks very young in her photo. They gave me no indication that this wasn’t an MD or DO.

That’s what’s available. I called back, and the scheduler said there’s no one else, and she said this woman had been there a long time, was also a nurse; when I asked if she could write prescriptions, they said yes — but I’ll bet that ability is very limited. What the (blankety blank swear word).