Last year I got caught in a mess where the hospital couldn't find a pdoc to take over the unit that my pdoc wanted me hospitalized on and I had to wait an extra month to find someone who would accept me as a patient. (This is at a prestigious hospital where you'd think people would want to work).

At that time I read my state has a severe shortage of pdocs that is projected to get much worse. Pdocs are on average getting older and retiring and fewer doctors are going into psychiatry because of less prestige and lower pay. So the shortage is just going to get worse before it gets better.

I drive 2.5 hours to see my pdoc. I haven't tried to find one closer and the one I have was closer before we both moved over the years. I don't mind driving because she is excellent. One thing that really helps with my fear of not having a pdoc after she retires is I go to a big teaching hospital with 50-60 pdocs on staff so I know that whatever happens she'll easily be able to refer me on, as long as I'm willing to keep driving.

So if you have the ability maybe look for a teaching hospital? (The other nice thing is they typically take nearly any insurance possible).