If it’s her toe why not go to a specialist?
Otherwise she might go to a doc who will send her to a specialist and that’s two separate bills.
Generally if someone has a PCP then insurance wants them to go there first before referral so they can see if it’s “worth it” to them financially to approve the specialist’s services. Otherwise the referral gets rejected and the person still isn’t treated.
If LU is going on her own then it’s best to go to a doctor who can assess the issue directly.
There is a reason why I don’t go to my PCP for skin conditions. Once I literally went to the ER for something on my skin. It was late at night I recently moved to the area. The doctors did nothing. They couldn’t. They didn’t know what to do with me because I stepped into a place full of surgeons and doctors prepared for emergencies.
LU could be stepping into a triaged facility that may likely let her and her stubbed toe take the back seat while kids throwing up and people who just had bloody falls find their way to help first.
If she calls the podiatrist then her triage will have more value and can be squeezed into the emergency slots that doctors need to accommodate for when a patient calls in need to be seen that day.
The podiatrist can understand that okay LU should come in ASAP. Squeeze her in between the person whose cast is being removed and maybe the person whose xray came back fine.
Podiatrist would have more sensitivity and understand the gravity of a swollen toe. Or even the staff can ask more questions and maybe give LU peace of mind that it can wait a day.
The regular doctor on the other hand will need to call for back up. Maybe send her to get an xray. Maybe send to the podiatrist. Maybe have other patients in mind that to the doctor may seem more critical when time is limited and they may be overworked in general.