topic Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait in Community Chat

Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Jordan2 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:18:23 GMT

I went to the gynecologist today, I had an 11:45 appointment. I was taken in on time to the exam room, however I sat in my birthday suit wearing just a paper gown for at least 35 minutes. I would rather sit in the waiting room than sit the majority of my time in the exam room. This has nothing to do with the new rules of Covid19, she always makes me wait. I see another doctor I have waited three hours for, sitting in the exam room for an hour. Everyone complains in the waiting room, but no one ever leaves. These doctors never even offer an apology like your time isn't worth anything. The medical assistants close the door on you, they never check back with you, like "Oh he's running a little late he'll be right with you". The only doctor I have ever gone to that doesn't make me wait is my ophthalmologist. You can get there early and you'll probably get in before your appointment time. And by God, he runs his appointment schedule like a tight ship, patients get in and get out.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

I am still oxox — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:20:35 GMT

Over 30 minutes with no valid explanation I am rebooking the appt

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:23:00 GMT

Guess I am fortunate that I cannot remember the last time a doctor made me wait more than 10 minutes at the most.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Jordan2 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:24:02 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
Over 30 minutes with no valid explanation I am rebooking the appt

@I am still oxox I already psyched myself up for the exam, also I was already there I wasn't going to leave.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

chickenbutt — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:26:45 GMT

I haven't been to a regular doctor in ages but, well until right now, I was still going to the dentist every 6mos and I'm one of those 'always on time' people, so I do my part.

I can get annoyed, although I understand there are many variables. But the ONE variable that angers me is when everybody else throughout a given day ends up having to wait a long time because some cretin showed up late for his/her appointment. I'm sure people like that just don't care that their behavior affects a lot of others and that's probably what makes me even more angry.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

software — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:26:45 GMT

Does it bother me? Yes

But they only do it once.

I needed an echo, everything off from the waist up, put on a gown & started the wait. I was the only one in the waiting room. It was between noon and 12:30. All of a sudden I start hearing what sounded like a number of people going down the hall. It was lunchtime and they were going to leave me there in the gown until lunch was over.

I got dressed, went to lunch myself.

They were looking for me when I strolled back in.

They got an earful.

Never happened again

You have to speak up

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

cindyNC — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:28:42 GMT

In an attempt to remain profitable, some offices schedule more patients per hour. Whether or not they do this, all it takes is one patient who requires extra time to throw an entire schedule off. And sometimes I've been that patient who needed the extra time or had more questions.

I went to my GYN appt today and it was right on time. BUT....I finally scheduled with the PA as my doctor called to reschedule my appointment twice. I found out she is semi-retired now, working 2 days a week between two offices, and has her 90+ year old mother living with her. So, I guess I'll keep seeing the PA .....she has quite a few gray hairs and wrinkles, but I didn't dare ask how old she was or if she was retiring shortly. LOL

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

haddon9 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:28:45 GMT

Last summer I had a toothache on a tooth that my oral surgeon had worked on a few months before. I called to see him as an emergency and they squeezed me in. Yes I was grateful but the receptionist told me to come in at 12:30 and I didn't see him until 4:30 when his day was almost over....and I was in a lot of pain!

I actually went to sit in the car for a while (it was nice out) since I was so uncomfortable sitting on his hard chairs in the waiting room while in a lot of pain.

That really annoyed me...why didn't they tell me to come in later in the day?!!

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

kitcat51 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:29:50 GMT

No.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

chickenbutt — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:31:00 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
Last summer I had a toothache on a tooth that my oral surgeon had worked on a few months before. I called to see him as an emergency and they squeezed me in. Yes I was grateful but the receptionist told me to come in at 12:30 and I didn't see him until 4:30 when his day was almost over....and I was in a lot of pain!

I actually went to sit in the car for a while (it was nice out) since I was so uncomfortable sitting on his hard chairs in the waiting room while in a lot of pain.

That really annoyed me...why didn't they tell me to come in later in the day?!!

Oh, that's just very, very wrong! I'm sorry you had to go through that. I don't think I would have lasted that long, but the really sukky thing is that you really didn't have much of any choice.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

catter70 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:31:09 GMT

It happens to me all the time. They over book. Even getting the first appointment of the day is no guarantee that there won't be a wait time. They wonder why my blood pressure is high.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

tarsmom — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:32:01 GMT

I no longer have to deal with this as I quit going to my gyno when I had a hysterectomy. I always had to wait. When I was working it was terrible because I had to get back to work. Depends on how much you love your doctor. I hated to leave but everyone I know waits at the gyno.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Still Raining — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:32:04 GMT

I have put my clothes back on and left and told them why. Speak up.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Drythe — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:56:26 GMT

I’ll wait 30 to 45 min, because after all, they’re not running a

McDonalds and things can happen.

Always waiting for the same doc is, IMO a matter of intentional over-booking, and I will find a new MD.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Porcelain — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:37:33 GMT

How annoying. I would have put my clothes back on in order to go back out there and ask what the holdup was. That is way too long to sit around half naked. Waiting that long in the waiting room is another story.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

jackthebear — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:41:28 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
I have put my clothes back on and left and told them why. Speak up.

great idea but leaving means you just have to come back

so it really gets you nowhere

however, saying you have been waiting for xx minutes does help

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

reiki604 — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:43:14 GMT

I will wait 30-45 minutes if I have to and am given an explanation why. I once asked for the first appointment of the day and was there on time. I waited in the exam room for over a half hour and found out later that the doc was not even scheduled to arrive until that time. From that time on, I come in 1/2 later than my appointment time and me and the doc share the elevator up to the office.

Many years ago I made a gyn appt during my lunch hour. After an hour wait, I told them I was going to charge them my hourly rate since my paycheck would be docked (it wasn't). I never went back there.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Sushismom — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:43:35 GMT

My mother's doctors, both her gen med and renal, have made us wait more than 1/2 hour. I don't make them wait for me.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

deeva — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:57:28 GMT

Yes. There's no way I'd wait that long unless I had some acute condition. My doctor is very considerate of her patients time.

Re: Does It Bother You When Doctors Make You Wait

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:50:39 GMT

At my concierge MD they schedule each pt for 2-3 hours with the doctor so there is no wait.

At any doctor that takes insurance I know, I will have to wait. At the 35 min mark I will open the exam room door and flag ANYONE I can find and tell them how long I have been waiting at the 45 min mark I start to get dressed and leave. I am always sure to take my paperwork to the counter where I write in bold letters across the form NO SERVICE NO CHARGE and explain it to the check out staff.

I someone comes in to tell me sorry we had an emergency extra that is different, I understand that it happens, but I will not be left and forgotten.