Comment by nomilk

> You need to be doggedly persistent on scheduling things. Yes this means lots of phone calls. If you get an appointment a few weeks out, call back a few days later and ask for something sooner and see if they have any cancellations.

> No one cares more about your case than you, so take control and send lots of follow-ups.

Although the advice regards cancer, there is no time-sensitive ailment for which you shouldn't do this.

Never wait around - call, hustle, be polite, and (don't let on but) always assume absolute incompetence at every step (best to be pleasantly surprised when things are handled well, than waste weeks/months because of an administrative screw up or because your case fell between the cracks).