Any therapy appointment I've ever been to has been an hour long, and they usually run like clockwork. A psychiatrist who's booking them 15 minutes apart is just handing out prescriptions
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Dr. Appointment Wait Time?
- Thread starter shadowtippy
- Start date
-
- Tags
- wait
i went to a doctor in the valley not that long ago. the wait was about twenty minutes... sort of. the thing was, he went from room to room, never focusing on any one patient for more than 6 minutes at a time. i chose not to go back. btw, when i was pregnant with my son, i went to a doctor who was always at least an hour late. one day, while waiting and waiting and waiting for my appointment, i overheard the receptionist and one of the other women in the office talking. turns out they were scheduling two appointments for every slot and not telling the doctor, who was working three hours or more later than his office close hour every night.
Here's the deal. They try to predict how long appointments will take, but they just can't. If they book appointments too lean, they can't make any money. If they overbook they lose patients who lose patience. 
My wife is a pediatrician. Her staff tried to book things in a way that there are no backed up schedules. But you can't always do that. Often she will have a regular annual physical for a 13 year old girl scheduled (something that would usually take 30 minutes). When the patient arrives it turns out she is suddenly secually active and has an eating disorder and mom is flipping out. On that case, you can't just "treat 'em and street 'em" (a phrase used by doc in a box urgent cares to get patients out the door quickly no matter what).
What if your problem ends up taking a few extra minutes? Do you want your day to say "Sorry, bud. But I have someone in this room in two minutes. We'll have to set up another appointment to finish talking about your problem."?
(Answer: No, you don't)
Patience and perspective.
My wife is a pediatrician. Her staff tried to book things in a way that there are no backed up schedules. But you can't always do that. Often she will have a regular annual physical for a 13 year old girl scheduled (something that would usually take 30 minutes). When the patient arrives it turns out she is suddenly secually active and has an eating disorder and mom is flipping out. On that case, you can't just "treat 'em and street 'em" (a phrase used by doc in a box urgent cares to get patients out the door quickly no matter what).
What if your problem ends up taking a few extra minutes? Do you want your day to say "Sorry, bud. But I have someone in this room in two minutes. We'll have to set up another appointment to finish talking about your problem."?
(Answer: No, you don't)
Patience and perspective.
Define "any money"Here's the deal. They try to predict how long appointments will take, but they just can't. If they book appointments too lean, they can't make any money. If they overbook they lose patients who lose patience.
My wife is a pediatrician. Her staff tried to book things in a way that there are no backed up schedules. But you can't always do that. Often she will have a regular annual physical for a 13 year old girl scheduled (something that would usually take 30 minutes). When the patient arrives it turns out she is suddenly secually active and has an eating disorder and mom is flipping out. On that case, you can't just "treat 'em and street 'em" (a phrase used by doc in a box urgent cares to get patients out the door quickly no matter what).
What if your problem ends up taking a few extra minutes? Do you want your day to say "Sorry, bud. But I have someone in this room in two minutes. We'll have to set up another appointment to finish talking about your problem."?
(Answer: No, you don't)
Patience and perspective.
Enough to buy a building, pay staff (half a dozen nurses and clerical staff), buy office supplies, pay all of the ridiculous fees and licences they have to pay each year, building and lawn maintenance, malpractice insurance, lawyers (because people LOVE to take a doc to court.....cuz their "rich"), accountants, cleaning contractor, and keep some for themselves. What? You think the docs just keep every dime that comes in the door? They are running a business just like the doughnut shop and the mechanic.
So, yes, they have to try to keep a full schedule to pay everyone else and themselves. Sometimes that means someone will have to wait extra time. So be it. If you don't like it, go to the doc in a box. They will talk to you for 4 minutes and write you a prescription and move on to the next 47 patients......if you call that medical treatment.
Last edited:
When wifey and I first got together she was using our local doc in the box monopoly (28 locations around the city) because she said she never had time to suss out a full time GP she trusted. Granted she had a couple of really bad experiences with GP's over the years and was not eager to repeat those experiences. It took me a while to convince her the goal of the doc in the box is not to get you well, but to do just enough to keep you coming back. I finally got her to go see my regular doctor who's been the best sawbones I've ever had the pleasure of being poked and prodded by (did I just say that?
), and he won her over on her first visit. Finding a good physician can be an arduous task, but is so worth it in the long run. I occasionally wait past my appointed time, but I know it's because my doctor won't short any of his people in the interest of keeping a schedule on track. He takes the time required to do his job well and occasionally that takes longer than it is scheduled to take, such is life. If he was chronically late, or always pushing folks out the door in the interested of meeting some sort of patient quota, he would not be my doctor.
I understand all the overhead. Why do I never see a doc driving anything but a BMW, Mercedes, or some other high end auto? Or live in an apartment in the shady part of town? Because 'not making any money' is still probably dang close to six figures or above the median.Enough to buy a building, pay staff (half a dozen nurses and clerical staff), buy office supplies, pay all of the ridiculous fees and licences they have to pay each year, building and lawn maintenance, malpractice insurance, lawyers (because people LOVE to take a doc to court.....cuz their "rich"), accountants, cleaning contractor, and keep some for themselves. What? You think the docs just keep every dime that comes in the door? They are running a business just like the doughnut shop and the mechanic.
So, yes, they have to try to keep a full schedule to pay everyone else and themselves. Sometimes that means someone will have to wait extra time. So be it. If you don't like it, go to the doc in a box. They will talk to you for 4 minutes and write you a prescription and move on to the next 47 patients......if you call that medical treatment.
In contrast, look at what a hardship it is for the average knuckle dragger (such as myself and everybody I know) to get that time off from work ... where missing a half or a whole days pay is critical to eating or paying rent for a small apartment in the shady part of town.
I appreciate where you're coming from, but i don't think 'any money' means the same to us. Not being able to pay for your boat slip or 2nd home is not not making any money
Ha! My wife drives a '08 Trailblazer and her partner drives a 1999 Dodge Dakota with about a quarter million miles on it. But I get where you're coming from. Been there myself.
God forbid anyone that spends 12 years getting an education and works 12 hour days with the constant threat of ending someone else's life enjoy the fruits of their labor!!!
I asked that of a Doctor I went to for a long time. He said that happens because sometimes it takes more time than average with a patient. They really do want to give you the time to do what you need, but they have to schedule on statistical averages.
My thought: That makes sense. I would not be happy if the Doctor suddenly walked out on me saying, "Sorry, times up."
So, as others have said, earliest possible in the morning is your best shot at not having to wait too long. First thing after lunch may work if the Doctor is not still behind from the morning appointments.
My thought: That makes sense. I would not be happy if the Doctor suddenly walked out on me saying, "Sorry, times up."
So, as others have said, earliest possible in the morning is your best shot at not having to wait too long. First thing after lunch may work if the Doctor is not still behind from the morning appointments.
Scheduling the appointment for first thing after lunch is great, only it doesn't work out all that well. I had scheduled my appointment for 1:30, the first one after lunch, their receptionist called the day before to confirm the appointment. She called back later to tell me the NP would not be in that afternoon, but she could see me at 2:30 the following Monday. Fourth patient of the afternoon, not too bad. At 3:00 the NP is going in to see the second or third patient. She is 45 minutes or an hour behind "schedule" by this time. My self importance kicks in and I schedule another appointment. (I needed to eat and get to bed so I could be rested enough to go to work that night.) I got the first afternoon appointment for Friday. A few minutes after I gather home, my phone rang and it was the doctor's receptionist. The NP will not be in on Friday. I can have the second appointment on Monday afternoon. We will see how that works out.
In some places there is a shortage of doctors so they have to overbook to get more people in--sure that may not be the optimum scenario--but it gets more people in.
Also sometimes they overbook because there are almost always cancellations.
When they are paid by the appointment that matters.
That said sometimes I get there early & get in early, other times I'm there early & get in late--but sometimes I'm the one delaying things, sometimes I'm not.
Also sometimes they overbook because there are almost always cancellations.
When they are paid by the appointment that matters.
That said sometimes I get there early & get in early, other times I'm there early & get in late--but sometimes I'm the one delaying things, sometimes I'm not.
Patience and perspective.
Yeah, I have to go with this. Health care people are often overworked and understaffed. I often have to wait a good bit in the waiting room or exam room or chair.
The upside to that is my Doctor and Dentist are both good, take time to listen and don't try to slam jam expensive diagnostic or treatment options down my throat. Their staff are great too.
So for my part, as a general rule I try not to turn a little inconvenience or minor annoyance into a major drama show.
On the other hand, I have been to practitioners who had money mill and dollar signs oozing from their pores. I won't go back a second time.
If they're talking about stage 4 cancer before you, chances are you've got it to because you'd be at a specialist.
Actually I don't mind a little wait because I know stuff happens. What I hate is when road construction or car accidents or kids being sick at school happens to me and I get a nice $75 Bill for being late. I'm human enough to realize that some things are uncontrollable. They are not. No other professionals charge for late or missed appointments, especially not at fault ones.
In my extensive experience with doctors, I've found that wait time really varies from one doctor or practice to another, and I haven't noticed a correlation between wait time and the amount of time the doctor spends with me. I had one doctor back when I'd just gotten out of college who regularly made me wait a long time. Three times in a row I had to wait an hour--the last time, I walked out after an hour and never came back.
I've had better luck recently. Been seeing the same doctor for 12 years, and I rarely have to wait more than 15 minutes. And he's thorough and spends as much time with me as needed.
It does grind my gears that a few offices now say in their paperwork that if you're more than 15 minutes late, they'll charge you as a no-show and reschedule your appointment. No idea if that's ever enforced, though.
I've had better luck recently. Been seeing the same doctor for 12 years, and I rarely have to wait more than 15 minutes. And he's thorough and spends as much time with me as needed.
It does grind my gears that a few offices now say in their paperwork that if you're more than 15 minutes late, they'll charge you as a no-show and reschedule your appointment. No idea if that's ever enforced, though.
Whenever I have to wait longer than necessary for an appointment, I find their office is usually in a building with no validation for paid parking, and I think..."Relax, only Drs. who are good enough to be in this building can demand not validating"...
OR:
I have way too much time to wait and think the following thoughts in a comic-relief/tongue-in-cheek (that is, before I finally get to open my mouth and say "Ahhhhh" officially) sort of way:
They are overbooked and taking their time 'cause they are getting a cut of the parking profits!
They get no actual monetary share of the profits, it's just part of their unwritten "one hand washes the other" leasing agreement!
One of the worst appointments I got was making the mistake of choosing a Dr. with the same last name as one I had as a child from a long list of other doctors who met my criteria.
First off, he pronounced his last name differently and was apparently on some sort of stimulant.
When I was finally assigned to a room, and he finally got to my room, he opened the door and blurted out a "Hi, I'll be with you in a moment", quickly closed the door behind him, and proceeded to say that to two other rooms in succession.
OR:
I have way too much time to wait and think the following thoughts in a comic-relief/tongue-in-cheek (that is, before I finally get to open my mouth and say "Ahhhhh" officially) sort of way:
They are overbooked and taking their time 'cause they are getting a cut of the parking profits!
They get no actual monetary share of the profits, it's just part of their unwritten "one hand washes the other" leasing agreement!
One of the worst appointments I got was making the mistake of choosing a Dr. with the same last name as one I had as a child from a long list of other doctors who met my criteria.
First off, he pronounced his last name differently and was apparently on some sort of stimulant.
When I was finally assigned to a room, and he finally got to my room, he opened the door and blurted out a "Hi, I'll be with you in a moment", quickly closed the door behind him, and proceeded to say that to two other rooms in succession.
My cardiologist is ALWAYS 45 mins late.....Tempted to just turn up for appointments a bit later than scheduled but I'm pretty certain that S.O.B would STILL make me wait for 45 minutes! 
tell us about insurance premiums, co-insurance, copays, constant billing issues, etc...
Maybe I'm just unlucky, but waiting at an appointment seems to be the norm these days.
An appointment just seems to be a time where you arrive and wait.
We had an appointments for road tests at the DMV and both times we had to wait about 45 minutes after arriving 15 minutes early.
Yeah, they were only 30 minutes late, but how could you be when there's an appointed time?
When I go to the doctor, I get seen right away, but only if you count having your blood pressure and weight checked by the nurse. Then I sit in the nurse's office or outside the dr's office for another 30 minutes.
An appointment just seems to be a time where you arrive and wait.
We had an appointments for road tests at the DMV and both times we had to wait about 45 minutes after arriving 15 minutes early.
Yeah, they were only 30 minutes late, but how could you be when there's an appointed time?
When I go to the doctor, I get seen right away, but only if you count having your blood pressure and weight checked by the nurse. Then I sit in the nurse's office or outside the dr's office for another 30 minutes.
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Just picked up a used Bugera Veyron Mosfet BV1001M- Latest: Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati
