Medical Office Policies

There is a shortage of dermatologist in most places in the United States, and the Capital District is no different. The federal government, through the Medicare program effectively places price controls on the medical marketplace. These two factors have produced a situation where the consumer demand for medical services far exceeds the supply of appointments. The result is a long wait to get an appointment. There are urgent problems in the community that we feel need to be worked into our already full schedule. Imagine, for example a patient with a severe rash, or a case of a possible melanoma. These patients cannot wait six months for an appointment. Furthermore, patient visits are unpredictable: some patients have one simple problem, while others bring in a list. It is very difficult to predict how long an appointment will take. Instead of rushing, Dr. Buhac believes that each patient should be given the time that they deserve, and as a result, there are sometimes delays. We constantly try to adjust our schedule and optimize office efficiencies to improve your experience. Unfortunately, at times patients do spend more time at the clinic than we or they would like. We apologize for this inconvenience and hope that you understand the reasons for this. We might not be able to do everything that you would like us to do at each visit, due to scheduling and insurance issues. Please understand also that we are also patients and have experienced similar situations ourselves.