'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by PTCruzr @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

PTCruzr — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:20:41 -0000

My GP is pretty good that way. And he allows 15 minutes per person. That should most generally be enough time but you can't allow for people who want to corner the doctor for an hour. There should be a way for them to wait while he sees others and then they can have his ear. They do believe that we as customers have to allow this but I think if you are unhappy, complain. It never hurts. I know my GP sends out comment cards for every visit. I fill them out and return them. Most always they are good reports but if there is a complaint, they don't know unless you tell them... Whether they are an excellent doctor or not, they should allow the patients something for keeping them waiting.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by butterbean1 @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

butterbean1 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:40:24 -0000

HOWDY, YOU MUST BE DREAMING!!!! I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A DOCTOR IN MY LIFE WHO WAS THAT EFFICIENT!!! WOULD BE NICE THOUGH!!!

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by PTCruzr @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

PTCruzr — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:09:46 -0000

Hi, I have heard of a doctor who deliberately makes his patients wait...that way he puffs up his ego. I think that the most you should wait for an appointment is 1/2 hour. I waited 4 hours one time for an eye doctor. Never again. That eye doctor has since improved the waiting time. If they are running way behind, don't they owe it to us as "customers" to give us the opportunity to reschedule?
I now tell them that my mom has great difficulty breathing and therefore, waiting is not an option. This does seem to work. She is on oxygen and needs a wheelchair so it is difficult for her. One of the appointments is 2 hours away so after the 2 hour drive, I'm unwilling to wait because by the time I get mom back home, she is exhausted.
I also think that some physicians like to overbook which is not fair to patients.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by dollbutton @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

dollbutton — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:57:50 -0000

What gets to me is I have to pay a sitter so I can go to the dr. and my ortho doctor appointments are always at least 2 hrs + late.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Ranae1221 @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Ranae1221 — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:29:16 -0000

My grandparents primary doctor is always running late. We used to wait for long periods of time, and my grandpa HATES waiting. We found that scheduling an appointment right after lunch-usually 1pm- works great. I don't think we've had to wait more than 5-10 minutes since scheduling it this way.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by HisStory @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

HisStory — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:34:09 -0000

I think we all understand how you feel. But please try to understand that we all want and need quality time with our Doctor when he gets to us, and to my understanding most will still charge after missing your scheduled appointments. Also think about how our better Doctors have to see a quota of patients for their practice and the Insurers demands. And at times when we have to wait it is because they are trying to do the best for us that they can, many work well past office hours to accommodate all of our needs with the best that they can, shorting their own personal and families lives with a great cost. That being said, try taking with you something to work on, bills, a book, today’s paper. When taking my Mother I take her a game she likes, a puzzle or her favorite magazine (at times holding on to the newest that she has not seen yet). As far as myself I understand the pressures our Doctor has and even try to do these things, or at times even assist others that are in need of help just getting to the elevator or to their car. I had rather wait for the best than to be herded like an assembly line through with a quick handshake and a prescription and out the door. Always be prepared with a current list of all your meds, the reactions to them, and why or what Doctor has you on them, and the needs of this appointment, to help expedite your own visit. And as another thought, when you walk out this really makes your visit longer. With re- scheduling another appointment and another drive with another wait. But then this does give the Doctor more time for the rest of his/her patients for the day that just might be in more need than yourself.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Chris9879 @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Chris9879 — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:46:07 -0000

If I have to wait over an hour I want to be told why. There may have been an emergency in which case I'm going to understand. But if I'm just left sitting while the office staff is ignoring my situation, I will (and have, several times) leave and not return. I am not only a patient but also a client and expect to be treated with respect. Doctors and their staffs all too often have the wrong attitude because they figure you'll just tough out the long waits. Not me.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by memememe @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

memememe — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:08:01 -0000

I have my own rule - I don't wait over 30 minutes for any doctor - I kindly let them know I have a life and would rather reschedule than wait any longer. It's almost shocking the reactions you get - they really don't like you to leave. But I leave. It does send a message, and if more people would do it, I believe wait times would reduce. They know you were on time and have been waiting, and there's not much they can say if you choose to walk out. Just do it with a smile on your face.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by dinger @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

dinger — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:47:54 -0000

I always show up for my appointment on time. I go to the receptionest and ask her how far behind the dr is running. If she says any more than 15 minutes I give her my cell phone # and tell her to call me when he is within 15 minutes. If he goes over an hour, I call and make another appointment and express my dissapointment that the Dr. was unavailable. If it happens to often,it's time to find another Dr.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Anonymous @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Anonymous — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:37:30 -0000

I have waited on my dr for hrs many many times, he is so busy, saving lives! HE nor STAFF can control an appt time, call and verify your DR is running on time or late, I would say Ive always waited atleast an hr, but I can tell you many ppl have waited hrs on mybelf! If your DR is a good DR, which mine is worth every second of the wait and always apologizes, and yes does take money off the bill for waiting, for everyone, I dont know what I would do without MY DR, after 14yrs together, I wouldnt dare see anyone else, his hands have saved my life, so if that made a patient wait, I apologize to that patient, so I always remember when hes late - he is saving lives- sometimes its a verbal conversation that a patient has to have that needs comfort- think on the other side of the box! The hrs spend them with your love one, and enjoy the visit together, all these negative comments sound like you just hate to even be bothered, so hire someone or let your loved one get assistance with someone who has patience, because if you and your loved one are in the waiting room and its life and death at that minute or any other minute YOUR DR IS GOING TO GET TO YOU BEFORE ANYONE ELSE! I would hate to think I was such a burden! God bless you all, and to my dr's - thank you all for saving the lives you do, and for taking the time and sometimes even extra time you have to with all your patients, I wouldnt dream of leaving any of my doctors! I call them my miracle team and my family my heros! Im so thankful I dont feel like a burden to them like this whole page and comments sound. God bless!

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by PTCruzr @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

PTCruzr — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:12:16 -0000

Hi.Just wanted to point out a kind of situation I had with a doctor...my doctor (whom I went to with depression symptoms) equated the loss of my father to his son leaving for college. When I got my survey from the Medical center representing him, I told them about it. Next time I went I got an apology from the doctor and I know that he has not faced the loss of a parent yet and you have to stand in someone else's shoes to understand so I didn't hold it against him. He has been my doctor for the past 30 years.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by texastrish @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

texastrish — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:02:02 -0000

Sir, I dont know if youll see this post after so long, but I felt the need to reply to you. I dont understand why you think people waiting in a doctors office are lazy and dont exercise. That is a ridiculous statement. People are there because they are ill, their parents or children are ill, or it is time for a check-up. My husband and I go to our primary care physician every 6 months and this is scheduled by the physicians office, with a letter being mailed with the date and time of the appointment. We go as we are scheduled, and I call it... preventive care. We are not all lazy and we do exercise, though that is really none of your concern. You seem like a person who is angry about something which you cannot control, or you are just having other mental issues. I do wish you well with your health and feel you have been blessed to still be with us.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by PTCruzr @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

PTCruzr — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:44:06 -0000

HI all...I take my mom on all of her appointments. One of them is about every 6-8 weeks and it's two hours away. Mom is almost 87years old, has CO2 retention and congestive heart failure. The doctor 2 hours away used to keep us waiting a loooooooooooong time. So one day, I complained very loudly and aggressively that we drove a long way to get there, and still had a long way to get back home and could they please get us in sooner as mom was struggling to breathe. From that point on, every time we go, the doctor always says...I will try to give both of her shots to day so that you won't have to travel up here again so soon and he also mentions how far we come and that he tries to combine everything that is done to her to save some time. This doctor understands. Last time we went we drove home in a blizzard but the appointment time was only about 1 hour. Complain or find another doctor if that doesn't work. In this case, he was the only specialist nearby.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by rubydo @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

rubydo — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:56:19 -0000

I recently quit seeing a dr. who always kept us waiting at least one hour. Not because he had so many patients but because he spent his time talking with his employees all three of them. There would be one or two other patients in the waiting room. He was way past retiring age and I guess time meanat nothing to him. I am now seeing a dr. recommended by my orthopedic dr. who couldn't believe the dr. I quit seeing was still practising. I still have to wait longer than I like but my new dr. up to date and I consider the wait worthwhile. Besides I get some of my reading done while I'm there.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by brightstar @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

brightstar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:57:20 -0000

Hi, I never have not ben seen that day.

I hope by calling ahead you don't have to wait as long.

Thanks for replying. I JUST JOINED.

hugs, robin

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Lisa B @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Lisa B — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:09:45 -0000

Brightstar- that's a really good idea!! I'm always afraid that the one time I try, they won't be running late and they'll give my appointment away b/c I didn't show. Maybe I'll try calling ahead to see how late they are running.

Lisa

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by brightstar @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

brightstar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:23:22 -0000

Hi, What i have been doing is going 30 mins later. Some people lo upset when i am called right away.Not knowing i am at least 30 mins late for my appt. I call my reg docs office to see if he is behind before i leave.

This has been working for me.

Hope this helps, Robin

ps i have also asked nurse to ask doc for perscriptions if that is all i am there for.Have gotten them too.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Peggyj746 @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Peggyj746 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:58:58 -0000

I once when to an ENT where we waited for about 2 1/2 hours and there were others that had been there well before we got there! One older lady went up to the counter and said she had an appointment and had still been waiting for three hours. The nurse said, very snotty and loud enough for the whole waiting room to hear, "Just because you have an appointment doesn't mean you'll get in at that time," and then walked away! Boy, the rest of us were just HOT! We wished she had taken an attitude like that with someone else, because it was obvious that poor old lady was just a little flustered by that and she sat back down. I wonder if I were 3 hours late for my appointment and told them, "Oh I didn't think it mattered that I had an appointment," if I could just wander in and see the doctor when I felt like it? I doubt it! SO RUDE! I NEVER went back to that doctor!

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by brucha @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

brucha — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:26:38 -0000

When my dad was alive and we had to go to the doctor,s office,I would try to look for either the earliest in the morning, or the last appointment in the afternoon. I always tried to be sure we didn't have back to back appointments either. It was too much for my dad and also his caregiver. I would not leave him because he was very hard of hearing and I did not want to leave him when we were waiting to be seen. Some cities seem to be a little more tolerant of the patients. I am told that in a city in Oregon a staff member will post how far behind the doctor is. If it is too far behind and the patient can't wait any longer he or she can go up to the desk and reschedule. That really sounds good to me. In Memphis, there are some practices which are notorious for long waits. Since one that I am thinking of is an oncology facility, the nature of the business may be part of the reason for the wait. I am often tempted to send a bill to a doctor if I have waited more then two hours to be seen. Just never had the courage to do it. I have left an office before. I changed doctors because I was waiting too long in an office. The next doctor was a two hour wait so I went up and told them that I was leaving. I could not wait any longer- that was a two hour wait and had not been seen or even gotten into the back of the office.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Lsanders @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Lsanders — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:21:59 -0000

After waiting for almost two hours to see my OB/GYN for my follow up apt. to surgery that I had, had, I approached the reception desk and ask the Office manager if she could step back and ask the doctor if she felt that her time was more important than my time. When my OB/GYN stuck her head out to see who had ask the question I informed her that I would be sending a bill to her office for the two hours that I had been waiting to see her. She did not know what to say, I told her that she was charging me about $130.00 for a 30 minute apt. so I wanted $520.00 taken off of my bill and I left, when I got my final invoice for my balance after the insurance had paid out I noticed that the $520.00 had been taken off of the bill. I have changed OB/GYN doctors since then. When I go to the doctor now I wait 30 minutes this time includes the time I spend in the waiting room and the exam room if the doctor has not come in and if the nurse has not told me that the doctor is running behind I leave the doctors office without saying a word and wait to see how long it takes them to call me to see what happen to me I have only had to do this a couple of times and it sent quite a message to them mainly that there time is no more valuable than my time and I will not sit around all day waiting on them to get to me I have other places to be and other things to get done.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Anonymous @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:05:19 -0000

On one occasion, I arrived ten minutes late for my appointment. The doctor refused to see me and then sent me a bill for a no show. I accepted that even though I was angry.

On another visit, I waited for one-and-one-half hours. I left, telling the receptionist that I could not wait longer. I then sent the doctor a bill for the one-and-one-half hours that I missed from work but also my taxi fare to and from his office. He paid it. Never again did he refuse to see me or bill me for a no show.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by Anonymous @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:09:19 -0000

Ask the nurse and secretary to schedule your father's appts and make them ON TIME. When he shows up he should go to the head of the line because of his age adn he most certainly move ahead of any other routine visits when in acute distress. This should be standard practice in any office-(age before beauty).

You might telephone in advance and ask if the doctor is on schedule before leaving home and determine the lag time.

Let him talk! Use it as therapy time and let him get his aches and pains out there with others.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by ALAMO @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

ALAMO — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:50:41 -0000

If I make an appointment with a Dr., I will make sure that I am there at that time. If the Dr. cannot make the appointment then he has a problem with time management and I will make sure he knows it. I always call his office to make sure he is running on time, that way I can adjust my time, and hopefully not have to wait.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by pink770 @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

pink770 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:25:23 -0000

I go to clinics- "public care" for much of my care. It is walk in , so sometimes, there is quite a wait. I take a magazine or a book or a notebook to write in or paper to write letters I have been putting off writing. If I go to a private dr and he or she keeps me waiting an hour, I find out why and try again. I find another one if it happens again. My private physician usually sees me within 15 to 20 minutes and that includes sitting in the back. The free or based on income clinic , I wait because the price for my time is right. If I have to pay a big co-pay and insurance, I feel I should not have to wait an hour or two.

'How do you deal with waits at the doctor's office?' posted by @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:12:27 -0000

I have trouble being patient, too. I suggest, with a bit of humor, that the doctor may need to pay MY hourly wage for the wait time or reduce Mom's bill by HIS (or HER) hourly income. Yes, scheduling at early times helps, but nearly everyone has this trick. A genuine, "I am off work to bring Mom. Please help me get back in a timely manner, just as your bss would want you to be." OR "The longer the wait, the more uncomfortable Mom will be. That will only make more difficulty for the doctor when seeing her, as she will undoubtedly need more of his time for THAT additional issue. Can you help doctor get through more quickly by working her in as soon as you can? Speak directly to the doctor. Let him know that the waiting room is full of patients asking each other for names of doctors who treat them with mutual respect. Just keep searching and networking for the solutions you need! LOL

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