Why is a Doctor's time more valuable than mine?

[birdiesunshine]

Sometimes doctors, especially specialists, have to go to the hospital to take care of a patient, and it sets the whole day behind. Babies and heart attacks and stuff don't happen on schedule, KWIM?

I once showed up for an OB visit and they told me it would be a long wait and the doctor was in a bad mood, because he'd had a hard delivery and the baby died, did I want to wait?

Sometimes a surgeon ends up spending an extra 45 minutes in the OR.

While sometimes it is just over-booking, other times there are very good resons that we have to wait.

Of course those things happen but they shouldn't happen on a regular basis and certainly not with a chiropractor.

 

[airplane]

I usually wait at least an hour for my appts. I thought it was normal since this is the way it's always been. Am I going to the wrong doctors (Pimary and gyn)? I never reschedule b/c that would be more of an inconvience for me.

 

[HOGFAN]

I work in a mammogram office and we usually run late. Why? because we have to do soooo many to make any money due to poor reimbursement. we try to let folks know if we are really behind to offer them the opportunity to reschedule. but guess what, they would rather sit in the waiting room and complain nonstop than reschedule.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Of course those things happen but they shouldn't happen on a regular basis and certainly not with a chiropractor.

With OBs and surgeons, they happen a lot. Not with family doctors, though.

I've never been to a chiropracotr and have no idea what they do, except crack bones. But they aren't doctors, so I don't think they get called away to the hospital for emergencies. But maybe they do, what do I know?

 

[KristaTX]

Sometimes I'll call before I leave for an appointment and ask if I should expect to be seen on time, or if I should wait and come a little later. If I haven't called ahead but walk into a really busy waiting room, I'll tell the office people I have errands to run and ask them when I should return. Then I go do an errand, shop, or grab a snack somewhere .

 

[nordkin]

I once went to an orthopedic doctor that I waited 30 minutes past my appointment time before they put me in a room and then another 30 for the doctor to come in. When he came in I told him I did not appreciate the time I had to wait, my time was as valuable as his, and I was subtracting my hourly wage from the bill, which I did. The next time I went to see him I was taken right in and seen right away. I no longer go to him because I did not like his bedside manner, but I think more people need to start objecting and maybe things will change. I love my internist because her receptionist calls and tells you how late she is running so you do not waste time waiting.

 

[mickeymo]

Sometimes I'll call before I leave for an appointment and ask if I should expect to be seen on time, or if I should wait and come a little later. If I haven't called ahead but walk into a really busy waiting room, I'll tell the office people I have errands to run and ask them when I should return. Then I go do an errand, shop, or grab a snack somewhere .

I routinely called in before my OB appointments if they weren't the first of the morning. The office staff would tell me "yes, come in" - because the nurses were more often running on schedule - then to wait in a flimsy paper gown in an exam room for 30-45 minutes

My classic wait was calling in, being told "yes, come in" and then sitting in the waiting room for 90 minutes. Overheard a patient who came in, on time for her appointment, ask how late the dr was running and was told he was on schedule be the reception staff. I spoke up and said - um, no - he's running at least 90 minutes behind... there were 4 sitting waiting people sitting and waiting so, I know I wasn't forgotten...

To be fair, the staff would frequently tell me to delay my arrival if he was running late. There's nothing worse than a hormonal pregnant woman who has to go to the bathroom sitting and waiting forever in the waiting room...

My current OB/GYN is wonderful and always on time- but, I know to make appointments at the branch office instead of the main office connected to the hospital. At the main office she's on call for deliveries...And babies don't always stick to our schedules...

 

[delilah]

Well, now, sometimes if there is only one doctor in the office, and lots of sick patients (like the critically ill patients I saw the last weekend I was on call, people with things like bad COPD, possibly needed intubation and atrial fibrillation, needed IV diltiazem to control their heartrate), the people might need to wait a spell. I don't want anybody dying on my shift. (And nobody did. The COPD patient went home the next Wednesday, and the man with the heart problem went home Friday). Sometimes, saving lives is truly a thankless task.

 

[birdiesunshine]

With OBs and surgeons, they happen a lot. Not with family doctors, though.

I've never been to a chiropracotr and have no idea what they do, except crack bones. But they aren't doctors, so I don't think they get called away to the hospital for emergencies. But maybe they do, what do I know?

Some chiroprators are MD's. Mine is. He also does a lot more than just crack bones. He does a lot of natureopathic type stuff.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Well, now, sometimes if there is only one doctor in the office, and lots of sick patients (like the critically ill patients I saw the last weekend I was on call, people with things like bad COPD, possibly needed intubation and atrial fibrillation, needed IV diltiazem to control their heartrate), the people might need to wait a spell. I don't want anybody dying on my shift. (And nobody did. The COPD patient went home the next Wednesday, and the man with the heart problem went home Friday). Sometimes, saving lives is truly a thankless task.

I'm not saying that there aren't times when a wait in the waiting room isn't expected, I'm just saying that more times than not I wait and wait and wait no matter what type of appt. I have and those are the same offices that tell me to get there 10 minutes early.

ETA I appreciate what drs. do. My brother is a neurologist. He and I have had this discussion and he schedules enough time in between his patients to give them enough time to discuss their problems so he doesn't have to rush them off to get to the next person. Sure he runs behind but it's not on a consistent basis.

 

[nliedel]

Your time is not less valuable. My doctor switched offices last year and she went from a moderate patiend load to, what seems to be bazillions of people! Her office is always crammed to the point where we wait over an hour. We have thought about switching but she is the doctor for the entire family and we honestly adore her. She knows us well, held my hand through two HORRIBLE pregnancies (not as my OB but as my regular doc) then was the doctor for my preemies through some tough issues. I cannot leave her. It's not her fault. It's the practice she is in.

We finally just talked to her about it and she left instructions that we are to get the first slot of the day (there are 6 of us so we represent a lot of poeple in her practice) from now on. It's not perfect but it's something.

 

[crz4mm2]

Nope. Your time is not less valuable than your doctor's time. Sometimes, emergencies DO happen and patients do wait because the doctor(or care provider) is behind. I try very hard to keep things on time. Sometimes, I need to spend extra time with a particular patient. Explaining test results, procedures etc. So it does sometimes make things run behind. Yesterday, I got called out for a delivery. Patient was pretty nice about it. She delivered on the LUNCH hour! LOL and I was only 20 minutes late gettting started in the PM. I appologized to the first two patients that had been kept waiting (and both were given the option of rescheduling) and both said that was 'ok". Most people understand that THEY might be the one that keeps me late the next time. I give everyone the time they need.
If you don't like the wait, tell the care provider. If the care provider doesn't do anything about it or doesn't care, SWITCH to someone else.
I won't wait either. My time is valuable too. I once told one of the docs I worked with that NO ONE was worth waiting an hour to see (he routinely kept people waiting an hour or more to see him) including HIM! LOL. He took great offense (I didn't care- it is true!).
A few minutes is one thing, a half hour or more is not acceptable in my opinion.

 

[Nicolepa]

I guess I am fortunate, none of our Dr's make us wait. I've been seeing them all for years and I rarely have to wait.

My Ob told me that he doesn't like to wait and he trys his best to not keep us waiting. He encourages us to call and see if he's behind. When I was pg w/#1 I was already in the gown and the nurse came in and told me he just got called to an emergency delivery and he was going to be at least an hour. She gave me the option to reschedule or come back in an hour or so. Dh was with me so we went shopping for a couple of hours and then were seen immediatly.

The pediatrician, hardly ever a wait. On Monday we had a 5:00 apt and I had called to try to get an earlier apt as my daughter was screaming from pain. They were booked full. I waited less than 5 minutes (and I was 20 minutes early) and I was seen w/in 5 minutes of that. I was out before my appt was even scheduled!

The place I wait the longest is the GP, but even that if it is 20 minutes past your scheduled time they want you to call it to their attention. (Rarely is it 20 minutes).

 

[Buckalew11]

My OBGYN is always on time. Always. It is amazing! DH has been seeing an orthopedic surgeon for the past 2 years who also always runs on time (sometimes even EARLY!). We've commented to both and they both say it can be done--if the doctor cares and the staff cares. Plus sometimes a dr. works with a huge group (medical group) and sometimes they are pressured about how many patients to see.

Anyway, I appreciate a doctor who is on time. I run my business the same way.

 

[Pin Wizard]

If they're running 1/2 hour behind at 9:00 in the morning, I feel sorry for the 4:00 appointment!

You might try calling the office to see if the doc is on schedule prior to going in.

 

[birdiesunshine]

If they're running 1/2 hour behind at 9:00 in the morning, I feel sorry for the 4:00 appointment!

You might try calling the office to see if the doc is on schedule prior to going in.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the tone of your post. Are you being sarcastic? It seemed as you think think I am being dishonest. Is that the case

 

[minkydog]

Nope. Your time is not less valuable than your doctor's time. Sometimes, emergencies DO happen and patients do wait because the doctor(or care provider) is behind. Most people understand that THEY might be the one that keeps me late the next time. I give everyone the time they need.

I was one of "those people." I was scheduled for a routine removal of a small ovarian cyst. This was supposed to be a quick, in-and-out 30 minute surgery. When they got in there my doctor found a huge,6-inch tumor on one side and small ones on the other.He told me later he about died when he saw it--he was sure it was cancer. Of course, they had to open me up, explore everything,take a million biopsies, wait for results(benign!) and get this huge tumor out without breaking it. I was in the OR for 5hrs. I heard later that his morning patients were furious, but ya know, it was just one of those things.

I'm much more patient now with an unexpected delay.

 

[Stitchfans]

Believe it or not if you leave my drs office will charge you an office visit regardless. That is how money hungry they are. We have had plenty of fights over money. It is not unusual for us to have to wait longer than an half an hour.

 

[DVC-Don]

I have a job where you make appointments to see me also. I once had a local doctor who wanted to see me immediately but I was booked for a week. His reply? "I think I'm a little more important than most of them". Then he showed up without an appointment, but I left him in the waiting room till he left an hour later.

 

[mickman1962]

If over 30 minute wait, I leave.

same here