The relative ease of obtaining a dermatologic appointment in Boston: how methods drive results.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports have indicated long wait times for dermatologic appointments even for changing moles.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to determine the wait time for a person willing to make multiple calls and accept an appointment from any dermatologist at any satellite location for a changing mole from a dermatologist who advertised in a Boston, MA, telephone book.


METHODS
We telephoned each practice listed in a Boston, MA, telephone book.


RESULTS
Patients making one call to each dermatologic practice on average obtained an appointment in 18 days. Patients calling two practices were offered an appointment on average in 7 days. Patients calling 3 practices were also offered an appointment in 1 week.


CONCLUSIONS
We only telephoned practices listed in a Boston, MA, telephone book and we only surveyed one urban area.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a reasonable concerned patient who was willing to make multiple calls to different providers in Boston, MA, can be seen in a timely fashion.
Weingold
David Howard
DH
private practice, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA. weingold@suddenlink.net
Lack
Michael Dweight
MD
Yanowitz
Karen Leslie
KL
D000329:Advertising; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001900:Boston; D003880:Dermatology; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors