Waiting rooms

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[RichardMEL]

oooh this is a toughie. I can see several sides to this one.

It seems that you're now marked as a "demanding" patient. I don't mean that in a rude way, but we have several at our unit too... these are the guys that demand the big chair, or to be let in because they showed up an hour earlier than they're supposed to, so that entitles them somehow(I still don't get that one!), or whatever... and thus it seems that because of your attitude you've certainly made yourself known to the hospital staff and get seen to. In some ways this is great, because you don't get to wait long and you get what you want. Is that fair? I don't know. I sometimes think when I see these "demanding" patients at my unit get the special treatment because they'll crack a wobbly and chuck a tantrum as unfair because the staff give in and give them what they want, when those of us who follow the rules and try to work with them and not be a bother usually wind up coming last(probably because they think we'll accept that). I don't want to be one of those demanding people that the staff think "oh great, him!" but then again I am prepared to be a little more flexible. Heavens I've seen patients complain because they don't like the spot they've been aloocated, or the chair, or that they can't see the tv, or whatever.... so the staff bend over backwards to move them to a spot/chair that is better, and THEN they complain when they have to wait for it !!!! you can't win.

Please don't think I'm saying YOU are just like that. It can certainly be frustrating! A few weeks ago I went to see my neph, now my neph is also head of the university medicine department, and half a dozen departments of the hospital. He's a Big Wig(tm) - and I'm darn lucky to have him as my specialist - he's one of the most respected nephs in the country - and he's so busy with this that and the other getting an appointment is like goal. Well I showed up for my 1030 appointment at 1025. I saw his assistant a few times who assured me he would appear, and sure enough he showed up at 1115. It turns out he had to consult to two emergency situations during that time. Well, what could I do? I didn't know that till he arrived and apologised, but I didn't begrudge that - heck if I'd been one of those emergencies I'd be happy he pushed back an appointment to help ME out!!!

I think, given the state of our health system, we need to give and take and understand that sometimes things don't always go as scheduled. However time is also precious to us - all of us. I think maybe waiting 30 minutes is just a tad unreasonable - I know when I was waiting I was prepared to give it an hour, but then again I know my neph - normally he's pretty good so it had to be something serious to keep him away. Maybe 45 minutes?

I'm not sure about this overbooking practice - that's the first I've heard of something like that. i thought only airlines did that!! 

I can certainly understand and relate to your frustration. i guess right now you're getting what you want (ie: minimal waiting) and that's good. It does make you wonder what was going on the previous times, and are other patients being affected by how they are treating you now.

I guess it's good you stood up for yourself and took a stand. I don't think I would.. I guess I'm just a compliant little lamb... (shhhh don't tell the girls that!!!  )

[jbeany]

Rich, for American docs, it's common practice to slot 15 minutes per patient, with no lag time allowed between.  If an appointment involves even the slightest complication, there's no way the doc can keep to the schedule.  Not all docs do this - mine notes on his appointment reschedule form whether he wants 15 or 30 minutes for the return visit.  But for those who do, patients can be expected to wait for a very long time.

Henry, I do think 30 minutes is a bit close, though, although not entirely unreasonable, especially if the doc consistently runs behind schedule.  If it's a rare thing, then it's not such a big deal.  I waited an hour and a half at my last appointment with my surgeon - but they had informed me that he had gotten behind because of an emergency that morning with a patient who had to be transported by ambulance from the clinic office to the nearest hospital.  I'm also a 4 and a half hour drive away, so it's not like I can come back easily.  Have you considered only scheduling appointments before 10 am?  There's less chance of waiting then, since there are fewer patients ahead of you to slow the doc down.

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[peleroja]

I don't in the least think you're being unreasonable.  I also hate to wait, cuz I have no idea how much time I have left.  Besides, if one or two people don't show up, that's when the doctor should be writing out notes!

[Jean]

Lately I have found that having the first appointment after lunch works perfectly for me. The neph on the other hand, I always have to wait close to an hour.Sometimes I have a 2 P>M> appt and see him coming in at 2:45, and I am not first on the list. Very annoying, I admit, but dont know that I would have the nerve to walk out and then have to come back. Good for you tho, for doing it !!!

[sullidog]

I don't think it's unreasonable, however I would hate to pay the rediculous fees some doctors charge for missing an appointment

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[Dianejt]

I have to agree with Richard as  far there being two sides. My husbands Uyroligist is the head Dr for 3 hospitals, travles all over the country for surgery. He has office hours 2 days a week. Needless to say you have to wait. Frank doesn;t  mind waiting because he trust this man with his life. We also call before we leave the house (we live 1 hour away) to see how backed up he is. He also will take Frank in right away if needed as it has been the last 2 visits as his surgery recovery has been hard.
 My Dad goes to see an arthritist Dr every 6 weeks. Again this Dr travels out to our neck of the woods once a week. It is like a party in the waiting room, people bringing in pastrys, ect. This Dcotor makes my Dad's life bearable so he doesn't mind the wait, bringing in a crossword puzzle book with him to pass the time.

Sometimes when you want the best you must wait to get it.

[RichardMEL]

My specialist does not charge me ANYTHING to see him - just the medicare schedule fee which they pay. I think that's bloody awesome!! I'd pay him happily extra!

[cariad]

I hate waiting, too, but if I really like the doctor, I will accept it. Sometimes efficiency comes at a price - I know I hated going to my last nephrologist, and I probably never waited more than 20 minutes past the appointment time, but then I would be rushed out the door in less than ten minutes. Never any questions like "is there anything else you needed to discuss?" My husband nearly had to tackle the guy to get him to answer one question, as the doctor had called an end to the appointment. He also never, never would accept phone calls if I had questions between appointments, I would have to tell the receptionist and she would call him. This led to him prescribing me a medication that he should have known I was allergic to, and then the receptionist tried to blame me because it was not in my records that I had these allergies. (Um, how is it my fault that something crucial that I told your doctor was never written down?) Small wonder that he was pretty good with appointment times given his mass-production approach to medicine.

Needless to say, I don't see this practice anymore. My GP, however, sometimes I wait 10 seconds and sometimes I wait over an hour. I know that the waits can be that long because he won't leave the room until I've fully discussed everything I wanted to discuss with him, and he is treating all his other patients the same way. Yes, it's inconvenient to be kept waiting, but for that level of service, I will always let it slide.

In your situation, though, this guy does strike me as scattered (which doesn't exactly give one confidence in a doctor) and he knows he has an issue with keeping time. It's great that you've solved your problem with him, but I do agree with the others that this is probably coming at the expense of the other patients. I like the idea of phoning ahead to see if he is running behind as an alternative to laying down the law. However, I do see NO excuse for a receptionist to not be there to greet you that one morning, and especially after waiting half an hour. I can't tell how attached you are to this doctor, but I would have switched doctors at that point if at all possible.

[marcy996]

well, this is a subject that I can personally relate to. I have had ongoing medical issues way before being diagnosed with ckd and have been in many waiting rooms.  My primary doesn't overbook but she tends to take her time with patients and while I hate being stuck in a waiting room I appreciate her really wanting to know I am ok attitude rather than a push out the door without being able to finish a sentence attitude. My worst md was my last nephrologist who seemed to not only overbook but would take patients earlier than their scheduled appt because they signed in early.  It would take me anywhere from 2 to 3 hrs to leave the office and most of that was waiting time. Needless to say I switched nephs and now have a much better md. She actually listens and gives hugs! Even my son's pediatrician overbooks and we are switching because the excessive wait time is too much.
A doctor's practice is just a business. When I react to something that feels like poor customer service it feels more personal because it's my health and not the purchase of an inanimate object. I need to feel like I am being treated as a person.
Do I make sense?