I will check, thanks.

We have an online patient portal called MyChart that I find to be very effective. I can send a message directly to my doctor or other provider, and someone in the office generally replies within 24 hrs.

I left my name, dob, phone number, DNA sample, PIN num and cat’s birthdate and dog’s blood type.

That gave me a good laugh. Don't forget the answers to secret questions and your mother's maiden name 😂

Most but not all of our docs are in the same med school faculty practice. Easy message comms through a patient portal, but phones are answered promptly too. Which I use depends on the moment.

Offices of the few other docs in other systems - also easy to get through to, some with portals, some not.

I use the portal system, and he usually responds fairly quickly. And scans or blood tests come through on the portal, too.

Thanks. I signed up for the Charts Ahoy. That works well and I can communicate w my PCP’s office. I can read reports, see blood in test tubes

I cannot schedule studies or even a little finger x-ray for myself, even with the PCP ordering it. Those sorts of things have to go through Da Schedulin System. Similarly, if PCP wants me to see Scopes R Us group, I cannot schedule myself an appointment. These are practices that know the big system and work with Big Systems patients, but are independent practices — you know, like for Allergy Inc.; De Worming Group; Toe Readjustment LLT. For any appointment or exams or intro meet & greet with any of these groups, I have to phone that group practice, or phone Member Hospital Scheduling

.This is where the phone menu tree fun comes in and often they close at 4 PM, which means that they sometimes close earlier. I’ll have to try calling at 9 AM and then have to hangout by phone. Like waiting for a boyfriend to call. Today, I got two different group practices to answer the menu tree. The phone tag practice may return my call tomorrow in the order at which it was received.

Once some of these practices or imaging places do get connected with me, I find that they are sometimes booking out into the next year. I imagine if a person doesn’t have any insurance, or for those for whom The Great Gatsby Govmint shut out, they are never booking.

Primary doctors are the gate-keepers. We don't have enough of them. Specialists make more money -- for themselves and for the hospital conglomerates they work for. Our primary has never seen an owie that doesn't need to be seen by one of the specialists in her hospital system. She starts entering 'orders' minutes into a visit.

Let's not get too far into the arbiter of payment for a procedure, the insurance company, or to Big Pharma, where the OOP cost is the highest number they can quote without laughing.

Thank the last administratiion for capping Medicare OOP drug cost at $2000/year ($2100 in 2026). Before that, one of my cancer drugs was $18,000 a *month* retail; this year's new med is $26,000/mo. IDK what happens outside of Medicare. I do know you have to be nearly destitute to qualify for that 'help' that drug makers promise in their constant ads. (In the US, the cost of advertising is allowed to be incorporated into the price of the drug.)

Sorry for wandering, petalique. I hope your communications improve using the internet charting.

" Primary doctors are the gate-keepers. "

This isn't always true, chisue. Your description is on target as far as how HMOs work. It's a cost containment measure, not the opposite, a tactic to boost specialist involvement, as you suggest.

For insurance coverage that is PPO or something other than HMO, patients are free to take themselves directly to specialists if they decide it's what their situation needs.

Some specialists may require a referral. Most don't and self-referrals are the rule.

It sounds like you don't trust the advice or judgement of your primary care doc. Why not switch to a different one?

My PCP is with Cleveland Clinic in FL- I can schedule all tests through My Chart - easy peasy.