Do you wait long in Doctor offices?

[Beanie]

Seems like I am waiting more and more for the nurse to call me in the office lately, which is really unusual because I don't think I have ever waited longer than 10 minutes for my childs Doctor! Today, I had to take my 3 year old to the Pediatrician for a cough/cold that she just couldn't shake for a week (and the fact that I tried 3 different kinds of over the counter meds that didn't do a thing for her!)...Anyway, we had to wait a little over an hour to be called! I was more surprised than anything...When we checked in with the Receptionist, she said the doctor was running behind about 20 minutes, so it really wasn't a big deal then, but after an hour, I went out to inquire how much longer it would be and she said, "You are next"...

Do you have to wait that long to see your doctor? Would you have waited that long yourself? I didn't mind waiting, I was just surprised is all...

 

[catsrule]

yes, and there are always 2 waiting rooms, one in the reception area and the other in the exam room, and it is no fun in the second waiting room at the ob/gyn.

 

[minniecarousel]

I have waited for 45 minutes for the orthopedist. When I take my Mom to any of her doctors, we never wait more than 15 minutes. If it became any longer than that, I'd have to reschedule, since she just can't handle it!

 

[KimRaye]

Beanie, I have maybe waited 5 mins MAX at my dentist but, they know me outside the office.

Now, with the Kids Dentist, I'm SURPRISED if they get called within 30 mins. One Saturday, it was over an hour and, it was a 60-second 'CHECK' of DS's appliance, not even an actual time-consuming visit! The Ped's office is worse! Not Fun, At All!! This is supposedly the price we ALL pay for the Best of their field, in our area, anyway. Maybe the BEST could afford The Best Receptionists/Schedulers, too!! jmo

Once, when my Own Time was limited around an appointment, I called first to see if the Dr. was running behind and, he wasn't so, we showed up on time. Maybe that's the trick???

I remember when both kids were newborn/infants, one Dr. appt. could throw their whole eating/sleeping schedule totally off-whack! I feel for the new Moms that have this happen to them. It's no wonder those poor babies/kids leave crying!

{HUGS}

 

[Michelle]

At my daughter's very busy pediatrican's office it's RARE that a wait is less than 30 minutes. I plan accordingly. Thank goodness she is 9 now and not going through the illnesses that she did when she was younger.

 

[helenabear]

I've had about a 30 minute wait at my old doctor, which I didn't think was too bad. My current doctor called me in right at my appt. time. I was really impressed. I didn't have to wait longer than five minutes for anything!!! Now I wish my vet could be like that... my average wait there is about 30-45 minutes.

 

[dizneenut]

Oh yeah. My DH has waited almost 2 hours at our family doctor's office.

 

[Kermit]

I can't stand waiting and purpoely choose doctors that don't make you wait. My OB practice has 8 dr's and one is always <i>at</i> the hospital, so you seldom have to wait, since many delays are caused by docs having to go to the hospital. The family practice we use for everything else is very quiet and never busy. I'm always the only one in the waiting room, which is nice when you have an infant.

 

[caitycaity]

i usualy have to wait 10-15 minutes.

 

[JasonLyons]

when your waiting in the exam room does the Doctor knock before she come sin, mine does, what does she think im doing

 

[Lovely2CU]

We have a small village surgery and normally do not wait more then 10/15 minutes.

 

[becka]

I would say that the average wait for us is around 25-30 minutes.

A few times we get lucky and don't have to wait for more than 10 minutes but on our last visit we waited for an hour. I don't mind the long waits so much if we are there for a well-baby check but when DS is sick the long wait times are hard on both of us.

 

[browneyes]

I have waited 4-5 HOURS. It's ridiculous!

Normal wait is an hour and a half.

 

[bumcat]

Usually no more than 10 minutes. When I make an appt I always tell them that the date does not matter. What's important to me is to be schedule first if possible. I guess that's why I never have to wait.
I must be very very lucky because I never have any dr. problems like some on these boards do. It took me awhile to find a primary care dr. that worked for me but as far as all the specialists I go to they are wonderful.
So many at my job have asked me for my diff. drs. numbers when they need one. I once asked a coworker why does everyone come to me when they need a dr. She said it's because everyone knows how picky I am and that I wouldn't settle for just any dr.
Luckily there are plenty to choose from where I live.

 

[Amy]

The dentist my DS's see is great - we very rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes.

I actually changed pediatricians once my 2nd DS was born - the average wait there was a little over 1 hour. I loved the doctor, she spent time with us, never rushed us, but I just couldn't handle the wait with 2 kids. Our current pediatrician - we only wait about 15-20 min. Oldest DS's allergy dr. is the worst; fortunately we only have to see him once a year. There's an hour wait for the nurse to call us back, she does blood pressure, etc., then we have to wait another 45 min. just to see the dr. Then we have to wait while they mix new allergy serum, he gets a shot, and then we wait for 15 min. after his shot.

One thing I've noticed about doctors: the more letters there are after his/her name (M.D., Ph.D., etc.), the longer the wait.

 

[d.kurz]

You folks are way too tolerant. Your time is just as valuable as the doctor's or dentist's. Poor scheduling is the most common reason why you wait. I Doctor-shopped until I found one I liked. #2 on the list: I'm not waiting.

I asked my Dr about this. She told me that they work very hard on their scheduling, but she said the they considered their patients "worth the time" it takes to schedule proplerly.

My dentist is a one-man practice. He is also an excellent scheduler. If he is running late, which has only happened twice, he CALLS me and lets me know!

 

[Serena]

I almost never have to wait for more than 30 minutes.

 

[Fire14]

My orthodontist is great hardly ever a wait
My dentist was great when I lived in MI nless you count all my resch. Appts. d/t wife going into labor, kids getting sick, poor going out. At least they trackred me down to tell me before I got there.

My pcp I don't know haven't seen yet.

 

[Mishetta]

Oh Boy...this is a good thread & I hope Doctors are reading it!!

My mother suffers from cancer. We have a standing appt with the Oncologist & almost EVERY time I take my mom to her appt, we sit in the waiting room for an HOUR! I am so angry over this! My mother's days/hours/minutes are so precious that the last thing we want to do is waste an hour of her life in a doctors waiting room!

Wednesday I had my own appt with a specialist. I didn't want to take the baby since he's sick & fevering. So I worked so hard around getting him down to nap just before I left for my appt & left him with my ill mother. I get there & they tell me that the doctor was running 2 hours behind since he got tied up in surgery! ARRRGHHHHHH!!! They had my phone #, they could have called me to let me know before I went through all the trouble I did! Anyway, they actually told me to sit down, the doctor would be with me as soon as possible! WHAT??!! I left. I rescheduled for the day after & explained in detail my situation with my sick child & my cancer ridden DM who would be babysitting & that I could not devote an hour or more of my time sitting reading a magazine in the waiting room.

Much to my surprise, they immediately ushered me in once I arrived, the doctor came in about 5 minutes later & before I left he said "I hope we were able to accommodate your schedule, I understand you have illness issues at home." I had to pick myself up off the floor once I came too because I was so shocked at this doctor's humble remark!

One thing I have learned, is when possible, I call ahead now to ask if the doctor is running on schedule. (Unfortunately, this phone call method does not work with my mother's oncologist.)

I think we should start charging doctors when making us wait more than 15 minutes. I'm not a doctor but my time is just as precious as theirs.