This is true for an outpatient making a new patient appointment that is not deemed medically urgent by either the referring physician or the office receiving the referral.However, when a patient is seen as a consult in the hospital, they are typically seen in relatively short fashion as a follow up patient by that consulting sub-specialist. (EDIT: for diagnoses that need it. Not for every general admission.)A patient with a new diagnosis of JIA would typically be sent home with a 2 week course of an anti-inflammatory and be seen by the consulting rheumatologist or a colleague within that time period to plan the next phase of treatment. This type of case is not discharged without solidifying the plan for follow up.
I don't doubt the diagnosis but what worries me is that OP stated they live in Upstate NY. Most people around here (I'm by Fort Drum) have to travel to Rochester, Buffalo, or Syracuse if they aren't close enough to NYC. Even worse, if you can't private pay or don't have commercial insurance (translation if you have any form of Medicaid) it can be MONTHS waiting for an appointment, and should an 8 year old go without treatment for several months?Just to give you an idea on time frames: my children's my pediatrician started the process to refer my disabled 12yo son to pediatric endocrinology the 3rd week of August.I got the call LAST WEEK to make an appointment for March 2023 in Syracuse. So that's nearly 7 months from start to finish. FWIW our pediatrician doesn't think my son's issue is endocrine related but due diligence, you know?And this isn't new. Had to bring same boy child to Buffalo when he was 6 for ENT and neurologist appointments (well, Rochester was a possibility but I have family in the Buffalo area I can stay with). Same boy also went to Westchester outside of NYC for medical genetics because the waiting list for Syracuse was 2 YEARS LONG the last I asked and the downstate appointment was "only" a five month wait. But, family in the area, so worth the trip to see family too.Sorry for the novel. Thank you for being a pediatrician. <3