Wasted MY time?

[Glacier]

I've walked out of my dentist's office before. Told his receptionist that I had better things to do than wait around for him and that I would call to reschedule sometime. Obviously it was a routine app't, not an emergency. He was over an hour late and my time is just as valuable as his, especially since I was missing work to be there.

He called me personally that night at home; apologized profusely and booked me in as his first app't the next morning. Usually takes up to four months to get a non-emergency app't with him.

I don't know if he made some kind of note on my file, but he's never been more than a few minutes late for an appointment with me since!

I think you were perfectly justified!

[Laura's Babies]

I know my PCP spoiled me that I had in Florida... He use to ask all the time how long I had to wait to get called... If it was more than 5 minutes, somebody got chewed on!

I am not bonded with or have a ton a faith in this doctor, in fact I get rather annoyed with him. He only gives me a 30 day supply of medicine that I need for my eyes and tells me to come back next month and everytime you go, he wants TESTS! It is to apparent that they need more income to pay for that new office!

That being said, I know he was still out to lunch and not even there. His nurse wasn't there until she grabbed my file and called me to the back either. I was there for over a hour and saw neither of them until she came to get my chart. I think he still wasn't there and he would have shown up sometime while the tests were being done on my eyes.

[Cataholic]

I don't see 30 clients a day, of course. BUT, if I am running late, I certainly do not take a lunch. I might take a bite, chew, and walk into the meeting, but, I eat lunch after the meeting. I do not keep people waiting. There are exceptions, I might be on a teleconference, or just a long winded phone call (not of my doing), but, everyone's time is important. I am never more than a few minutes late, and that is rare. Course, I do have clients that walk in fifteen minutes late on occasion.

[Pam]

if I am running late, I certainly do not take a lunch.

If we are running behind my boss never stops for lunch. We tease him sometimes that we should hook up an IV for him so he can get some nourishment on those long days. We have three techs and three office people where I work. We all stagger our lunches so that there is always ample coverage and the office runs smoothly all day long.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I've done three Hoppsbittle Visits, and multiple "Office Visits" to determine >>>
EVERYone in the Medical Professions, *especially* Doctors, operate on a
different Time Zone than the rest of the world ... called "Doctor's Standard Time" or "DST".

DST runs about a minimum of One Hour BEHIND regular time -
and can be as much as 8 hours BEHIND what YOUR watch says!

So, when YOU're sitting in the Doc's Office at 8:45 AM for your 9:00 AM "appointment" ...
Ole Doc is sitting in his KITCHEN at HOME sippin cawfee #2 when he checks his
Doctor's Time watch ... "7:45 ... better take my shower an over to the office" ...

He shows up at the office at 8:45 HIS time ... YOU've been there an hour already!
Doc gets a fresh kawfee and checks his messages ... jots a note to call 'em back - after lunch.
Quick scan of the paper ... check watch ... 9:15 (Doctor's Time) ... Oooooh-Kay ...
Let's go see our first appointment ... "ONLY" an Hour & 15 LATE!

Put that same Doc on rounds in the Hospital ... and the "time warp" between Regular Time
and DST stretches out to 4, 5, 6, 8 Hours!
"Oh, I had an 'emergency'" or "I got called for a consult". ...



/s/ ex-Patient Phred

[kuhio98]

I always try to be the first appointment of the day. That way, they can't be too backed up yet.

My sister once waited 45 minutes for her dentist. He breezed in the front door in his exercise clothes. Seems, he had to get his workout in before seeing her. She got up and left and never went back.

[cassiesmom]

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.

[Daisy and Delilah]

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

[Laura's Babies]

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.

[DrKym]

I used to work in a clinic with a lot of uninsured patients - they'd wait a half a day if necessary.



UNINSURED patients are less sick? or their time is less valuble? Your clinic bases wait time on wheter they had insurance cards?

half a day if necessary??? Was there like an office pool?

Just a thought

Kym

[GreyhoundGirl]

I always try to be the first appointment of the day. That way, they can't be too backed up yet.

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.

[moosmom]

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.