Often, PCPs in major academic medical centers accept patients only as favors to other doctors, or through connections. Don’t know anyone? You’re out of luck:

Callers to Massachusetts General Hospital’s physician referral line, for example, are told that all, or almost all, of the hospital’s 178 primary care physicians are not accepting more patients. All 42 internists at Boston Medical Center have had full lists since four months ago, and 108 of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s 120 primary care doctors have closed their practices to new patients.

Determined patients, however, are getting in to see some of the city’s best doctors through informal channels, from e-mailing doctors personally to asking family members and acquaintances to use their connections.