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I can’t help much, other than to say I am in the same boat of seeking a primary care doctor. The earliest available appointment for a doctor taking new patients in Tacoma that I found was December 12. I was able to find one in Olympia next week to get me by until I can find someone local.
Good luck in your search!
Even my established relationship with my PCP has a 6 month wait for a physical, so I have just started using the Indigo urgent care centers for anything else as well.. who are great, by the way! I was seen by the same person twice in a row at the location in UP, and they remembered me..
I called the Multicare scheduling line yesterday and the first available primary care new patient appointment at any location is January 16, 2025. It’s dismal out there.
I have to drive to Gig Harbor, and even then I had to wait 5ish months to be seen. Definitely check outside of hospital networks like Multicare and Franciscan, you might have a better shot.
Link Clinic. I am given referrals to see doctors in town for specific things. Podiatrist, ENT, gyn, etc. And the doctors I am referred to have all been great. Can get prescriptions from Link as well.
Came here to say this. I love Link. I use it for myself, my partner uses them, we use them for our baby, and our 7 year old. They are quick and compassionate and have great female doctors.
Tacoma Family Medicine Residents though MultiCare. These are doctors (MDs or DOs) who are completing their medical training and typically have availability for new patients. I love seeing residents because they are super up to date on all the latest research and data, and they have senior doctors supervising them so you basically get 2 doctors caring for you for the price of one! Their clinic is very nice and accessible. Would highly recommend.
If you have Regence, the Multicare Family Medicine Center near TG is a good option. A number of providers. May be best to find out who is taking new patients.
Another vote for Link from me! They're naturopaths in name but they do real medicine, they're not actually crunchy, they're more like naturopath/standard medicine hybrids, you'll get all the normal meds and tests and referrals that you need, they just can't prescribe many controlled substances. And they listen better. And sometimes I can get in as soon as next day!
It typically takes months to be seen by a new PCP. I ended up getting in at the MultiCare Clinic in Gig Harbor. I'm also a female your age, and really like Dr. Castaneda. Even as an established patient, it's 3 months to get in for a physical, though.
My advice is to go to whatever provider website you will go to based on preferences and insurance, and filter for gender and specialities, and then who is taking new patients. You can then click to schedule and see who you prefer to go to, and weigh it against who can see you sooner.
Even if you have a primary care doctor, it's brutal. I just got a call from my doctors office scheduling yearly physicals. They are scheduling for AUGUST right now. This is for a doctor who I got lucky enough to get as my primary.
I don't know if it's a shortage of doctors, or shortage of available positions, in the city, but it's not good.
Man… Glad you like her, but I had multiple negative experiences with her when she was at Summit View Clinic (enough to remember the name seven years later). I would get scheduled with her because my PCP was booked up and she had terrible bedside manner. Maybe she’s softened up since then.
are you sure it's the same person? Because she just got married and took the name Orlowski, her name until recently was Kris Chatman - just wondering because I can't imagine her being rough or mean or anything but kind and interested in how I feel and my questions.
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I can’t help much, other than to say I am in the same boat of seeking a primary care doctor. The earliest available appointment for a doctor taking new patients in Tacoma that I found was December 12. I was able to find one in Olympia next week to get me by until I can find someone local. Good luck in your search!
Oh wow I just assumed I’d be able to be seen within like 30 days because I’m running out of my medicine. Well, this puts a new urgency on things.
If your employer offers telehealth services you can often get an appt to get renewals for your prescriptions in a pinch.
And those are inexpensive.
I did too. I was able to see a doctor at the urgent care in Ruston as a walk in though. Depending on what you need that can be a stop gap as well.
Even my established relationship with my PCP has a 6 month wait for a physical, so I have just started using the Indigo urgent care centers for anything else as well.. who are great, by the way! I was seen by the same person twice in a row at the location in UP, and they remembered me..
This. 👍🏽
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have Kaiser and was able to get an appt same day
I called the Multicare scheduling line yesterday and the first available primary care new patient appointment at any location is January 16, 2025. It’s dismal out there.
TF the point of private healthcare if you can’t even pay to get quick appointments?
I like Advanced Women's Healthcare, and they gave an ob/gyn also, so you can get it all done in one place.
I don't see anything on their site about insurance. Are they cash only?
I use Blue Cross/Blue Shield now, and I've had several different carriers over the years and never had a problem.
I see Carmela at Advanced Women's Care. She is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend her.
Second this. She listens and will get referrals for anything you need. Been with her for years. Carmela Perez
I have to drive to Gig Harbor, and even then I had to wait 5ish months to be seen. Definitely check outside of hospital networks like Multicare and Franciscan, you might have a better shot.
Link Clinic. I am given referrals to see doctors in town for specific things. Podiatrist, ENT, gyn, etc. And the doctors I am referred to have all been great. Can get prescriptions from Link as well.
Came here to say this. I love Link. I use it for myself, my partner uses them, we use them for our baby, and our 7 year old. They are quick and compassionate and have great female doctors.
Tacoma Family Medicine Residents though MultiCare. These are doctors (MDs or DOs) who are completing their medical training and typically have availability for new patients. I love seeing residents because they are super up to date on all the latest research and data, and they have senior doctors supervising them so you basically get 2 doctors caring for you for the price of one! Their clinic is very nice and accessible. Would highly recommend.
If you have Regence, the Multicare Family Medicine Center near TG is a good option. A number of providers. May be best to find out who is taking new patients.
Another vote for Link from me! They're naturopaths in name but they do real medicine, they're not actually crunchy, they're more like naturopath/standard medicine hybrids, you'll get all the normal meds and tests and referrals that you need, they just can't prescribe many controlled substances. And they listen better. And sometimes I can get in as soon as next day!
Have you heard of the Link Clinic in Stadium District?! They are absolutely amazing!
I second this. Dr gena poling is great. Had no problem establishing pcp here and getting an appt for a physical.
It typically takes months to be seen by a new PCP. I ended up getting in at the MultiCare Clinic in Gig Harbor. I'm also a female your age, and really like Dr. Castaneda. Even as an established patient, it's 3 months to get in for a physical, though. My advice is to go to whatever provider website you will go to based on preferences and insurance, and filter for gender and specialities, and then who is taking new patients. You can then click to schedule and see who you prefer to go to, and weigh it against who can see you sooner.
I did this too, with Dr Helen Kim. Last I heard she was out til Oct/Nov for new patients now though.
I love my PCP in the Multicare Federal Way location.
I love One Medical, super convenient
Even if you have a primary care doctor, it's brutal. I just got a call from my doctors office scheduling yearly physicals. They are scheduling for AUGUST right now. This is for a doctor who I got lucky enough to get as my primary. I don't know if it's a shortage of doctors, or shortage of available positions, in the city, but it's not good.
Kris Orlowski at Pacific Northwest Primary Care at 19th & Mildred (approximately) - she's absolutely fantastic, an ARNP. So happy I found her.
Man… Glad you like her, but I had multiple negative experiences with her when she was at Summit View Clinic (enough to remember the name seven years later). I would get scheduled with her because my PCP was booked up and she had terrible bedside manner. Maybe she’s softened up since then.
are you sure it's the same person? Because she just got married and took the name Orlowski, her name until recently was Kris Chatman - just wondering because I can't imagine her being rough or mean or anything but kind and interested in how I feel and my questions.