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Call about an hour beforehand - is the doctor on time?
Try to be one of the first two or three patients seen that day.
When you go back, tell the physician why you left today - your time is just as valuable as hers.
I used to work in a clinic with a lot of uninsured patients - they'd wait a half a day if necessary.
I must have the patience of Job. After reading this thread, I need to re-consider my choice of doctors.
My primary care physician's staff make three appointments for every 15 minutes. He doesn't arrive until around 11:00-12:00(after hospital rounds, etc). I have rarely been there when I didn't wait in the waiting room for at least an hour and probably anywhere from 30 minutes to another hour in the examining room. I usually figure my time there will be a total of around 2-3 hours. No joke. The bad part is that I thought this was the norm. I hear alot of people in this area talking about waiting this long at their appointments.
The doctor eats lunch in the office(usually brought in by drug reps.). If you are scheduled when he decides to take lunch(there's no set time), you could sit there another additional 30 minutes. Again, no joke. His waiting room is constantly packed and there are always complainers but usually, everyone sits there and waits until it's their turn. Yesterday I had an appt.--I took a catalogue and 2 puzzle books with me. I remember one time, I almost finished half of a circle a word book and read three magazines cover to cover.
I really love this guy but maybe I need to move on :confused:
If someone, ANYONE had offered me some sort of explanation as to why he couldn't see me on time... but nobody did.. I DO have a life! I am saying they scheduled me for 1 and at 1:30 he was not even there!! He should KEEP his appointments or someone needs to explain WHY he can't and ask you if you want to wait or reschedule! I was told nothing and left there to just sit and twiddle my thumbs...
Take a book? It was a eye doctor and I was there because I am having problems with them... reading was not a option for me.
I went to my original rheumatologist for over 10 years and stayed with him after he split with his partner, for which he thanked me profusely. I would leave work early (no pay) to travel a total of almost 2 hours to get to his office. His Monday evening appointments, for which I opted, started at 6p, my appt was 630p. I arrived around 6p to an empty waiting room except for the receptionist. I knew he was in, as I saw his car in the lot. It's now 6:45p..and yes, I'm "next". Hmmm...still empty waiting room. Finally (and I'm cutting this short) at 7:45p, I'm escorted in the exam room. What happened? Instead of taking me in right away, the receptionist waited for his 6p appointment to arrive..she was elderly and late so made me WAIT!!!!! I could have been in and out. If it wasn't an emergency, I would have left. I'm pretty easy going..but I thought our Dr/patient relationship was pretty good, so I told him what happened in no uncertain terms. I was so Po'd, I almost cried. He was shocked and HE took the receptionist into his office "to talk" as I was leaving.
I no longer see him (he moved too far) but I have to say, I've been extremely lucky. I may wait IN the exam room for a while, but never too long. I understand there are emergencies. My spine surgeon spent over an hour with me on my first visit, so I'm sure other patients were angry but it was important and urgent and I didn't expect it.
I love my doctors and their staffs. It took a long time to find the right ones and I dumped the ones with no bedside manners or compassion. My money, my body.
I am so sorry you were treated that way. You were certainly entitled to an explanation. The one thing that I think would help tremendously in medical offices is to allow for emergencies. What I mean is that at least one or two slots should remain unbooked each day. My boss is opposed to doing that because he is afraid that those emergencies might not appear that day and he would be twiddling his thumbs. He hates idle time and is happiest when he sees everyone busy, busy, busy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura's Babies
We have suggested getting a TV for the waiting room. I know that I have visited other offices where there is a TV and it does occupy your time so that you almost don't realize how long you have been waiting. There have been times that I have gotten so involved in what is on TV that when my name finally was called I wanted to ask them if I could wait until that particular program was over before coming back. :p
Quote:
Originally Posted by K9karen
The exact thing happened to me with an orthopedic surgeon I went to see. I am usually fairly patient, but I considered this completely unacceptable. All the while I was waiting in an empty waiting room, no one gave me any explanation of why I wasn't being called. Then to have the late arriving patient immediately escorted into the treatment room left me flabbergasted.
I didn't realize what had just happened until she was leaving and they were discussing her next appointment, to which she announced she would arrive late so she didn't have to wait. ???
I expect to be taken on time. And, for the large part of the office visits I have, be in mine, Jonah's or the cats, the doctors ARE on time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pam
I have left, switched doctors, and just walked out, and would do it again. To me, it is a matter of valuing my time just as much as the professionals- medical or otherwise.
It seems like a simple explanation that they are running behind would help all of us to be more patient as we wait. My primary physician's office has a sign posted that says if you have been waiting for more than 15 minutes (after your appt time), please alert the receptionist. I have never had to say a word, thank goodness. I never, ever go to the doctor or dentist without expecting to be delayed, though. I expect my doctor's full attention, when I am there with a problem, and I'm the same way with my veterinarian. That's why I like them so much and continue to see them. I turn off my cell phone, read a file for work, or enjoy a book and truly enjoy the little bit of peace and quiet I get while I wait!
I will say that I hate the television in the offices, though, because it is usually way too loud and on something that I don't care about watching. :o
My orthopedic surgeon (thumb doctor) is almost always running behind time. I usually call before I go to see how far behind he is running. However, one thing that they do is to post in the reception area how far behind each doctor is running. (Dr. "H" is running 15 minutes behind schedule, or Dr. "C" is running on time, etc.) As soon as you walk into the office, you know what to expect as far as wait time. This particular doctor ALWAYS apologizes if I have had to wait.
As I think about all of my doctors and dentist, I think that they all are courteous about telling me right up front if the wait will be long. I appreciate that. I usually bring a book (or I "people watch"!) and just knowing what the wait is expected to be helps to keep my blood pressure where it should be!
Laura, I am sorry that you were treated so poorly. Maybe if you called the office manager and explained your experience, you would feel batter. And hopefully tehy will take notice and make some office policy changes!
I used to work in a clinic with a lot of uninsured patients - they'd wait a half a day if necessary.
:confused:
UNINSURED patients are less sick? or their time is less valuble? Your clinic bases wait time on wheter they had insurance cards? :confused:
half a day if necessary??? Was there like an office pool?
Just a thought
Kym
Quote:
Originally Posted by kuhio98
Haha. Good luck! Our dentist... GET THIS: first appointment of the day... and we were waiting 1 1/2 hours!!! Our desntist is horrible for that. Even if you get there early you are still waiting for AT LEAST 2 hours. Usually closer to three. Cancel anything else you might have that night.
In fact... the only time I've gone in on time was when it was an emergency... which shouldn't really count in the "good service" dept. :(
I don't mind waiting to a certain extent. But doctors are famous for overbooking their patients. I refuse to wait more than 30 minutes and will walk out without hesitation.