<p>Umm, the mammogram numbers are weird, as are most “wait for appointment” numbers.</p>
<p>I have to wait three months for my annual mammogram (last year’s was clear)–but my friend whose routine yearly checkup showed a lump got her mammogram the next day at the same provider. They leave appointments open for the people who need a mammogram NOW as opposed to screening mammograms. That makes sense to me. So how is that counted as a wait? Is that six weeks (the average)? Three months? No wait? </p>
<p>Ditto on seeing my primary doctor. It’s about two months for a routine checkup, but a few weeks ago I needed to see her right away (urinary tract infection)–and her physician’s assistant saw me twenty minutes after I called. How would that wait be calculated?</p>
<p>And when my bone cancer was diagnosed, it was about three weeks from diagnosis to surgery for its removal. It would have been shorter if the doctor hadn’t already planned his two-week vacation. </p>
<p>In short, I’ve never had to wait for something important, and I’ve often had to wait for routine care. That seems appropriate to me.</p>