Need to see a specialist? Whether you’re looking for a Las Vegas OBGYN or a pediatrician for your child, getting established with a specialist physician can be an intimidating venture.
It used to be a lengthy, expensive, and convoluted process.
Luckily—things have changed. Today, there’s a new path available for patients. Now, you can see a healthcare specialist without the red tape.
More providers are paying attention to the patient experience, and a clear demand has surfaced: patients need easier access to specialists for healthcare. Healthcare specialist appointments must be easily accessible, swiftly scheduled, and transparently priced.
In this blog, we’ll define what specialists are and when you need to see them. And then, we’ll explore the processes required to see a healthcare specialist, both old and new—letting you in on the secret to seeing a Las Vegas Specialist in a snap.
When you call to schedule your appointment for your annual physical or a routine checkup, you’re likely booking with your primary care physician. These doctors can handle a wide range of common medical ailments seen in the general population.
A specialist, on the other hand, is a doctor who has expertise in a particular body system.
For example, an OBGYN specializes in the female reproductive system. Read more about the special care focus of an OBGYN below in the related blog at the link below.
Related: What’s an OBGYN: Get to Know Our Las Vegas Gynecology Team
An ENT doctor specializes in ailments of the ears, nose, and throat. A pediatrician specializes in the healthcare needs of children.
Here are some other specialists found in our healthcare system:
This is just a small selection of the many specialty fields out there in the world of healthcare.
There are many reasons to seek medical care from a healthcare specialist. Here are a few.
If you’re experiencing a chronic medical condition that your primary care doctor is unable to treat, it may be time to see a specialist. For example, if you’ve been asking your regular doctor to help clear up a skin condition, but it doesn’t seem to be improving—a dermatologist, who specializes in skin conditions, may be more qualified to help. Sometimes your doctor will refer you to a specialist; other times, you may need to seek out the specialist yourself.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) are trained to treat a broad scope of conditions that occur in the general population. If you know that you have a condition that is rare or that a specialist is more qualified to treat, then it may be appropriate to book directly with a specialist rather than a PCP. For example, if you have irregular menstrual cycles, an OBGYN or endocrinologist may be better able to pinpoint a care plan than a doctor with general training.
A third reason that patients desire to see a specialist is to find a doctor who is more familiar with treatment options that they have researched. If a primary care doctor is unfamiliar with a treatment that you want to try, seeing a specialist with experience using the treatment is a valid option.
So, now that you know when it’s time to see a specialist—let’s look at how to do it.
First, the long way.
Traditionally, the process of seeing a specialist involved making multiple appointments. Ultimately, your primary care physician was the gatekeeper who decided whether patients were permitted to schedule an appointment with a specialist.
Sometimes, you’d also need to have pre-approval from your insurance company before seeing a specialist. Insurance companies may deny coverage of specialist visits if the proper referral paperwork is not filed by your doctor’s office.
With the traditional method, you had to jump through hoops to see a specialist physician, including:
With the shortage of specialists in the Las Vegas area, seeing an OBGYN or other specialists in the area could take months.
Luckily, there’s a better way!
It’s hard to believe that anyone would follow the long process above to see a healthcare specialist when there’s such a simple shortcut. So, how can you see a specialist physician without jumping through hoops?
Schedule directly with your specialist.
My Virtual Physician wants patients to have access to specialists. That’s why we are here. Our patients have the option to visit with our Las Vegas specialists either online or inside our hybrid clinic located on Paradise Road in Las Vegas.
Our specialists include:
My Virtual physician offers transparent pricing and affordable visits for self-paying patients. Read more about grabbing affordable medications as a self-pay patient below.
Related: Guide to Self-Pay Prescriptions: Get the Best Price on Medications
If you’re located or visiting the Las Vegas area, walk-ins are welcome at our hybrid clinic. At this clinic, you can visit virtually with our specialists inside a private exam room right on the Vegas strip, making seeing a specialist on your own terms as easy as can be.
If you’re ready to book your appointment with one of our specialists, click below to self-schedule or walk into our hybrid clinic for an instant appointment. We look forward to serving you by providing a positive patient experience.
