Is it possible to find doctor who keeps appointments?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Paul K

Short answer- no. I am thoroughly sick & tired of this. Then when you get to the room, they take your pulse to make sure you are actually alive, then make you want another 15 minutes.

I generally make appointments for 3:00 and write off the whole rest of the day.

Well, you're obviously selfish, have no empathy for others in worse shape than you AND you have unrealistic expectations.

[Zeke]

I guess I've been lucky lately all but once. I had a first appt with a specialist and I waited a half hour. I noticed others there before me still waiting. I mentioned the wait to one of them and they said the doc runs late. Another half hour rolls by and I'm back to talking to the others who are still outside in the waiting room. I'm told that an hour is pretty normal, actually. And that he's worth the wait.

I said not for me and left. I was pissed that I had to pay for parking at this mothball's office.

[campbellcj]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

+1

It would be like the Seinfeld show, but without the humor.

There was humor on Seinfeld? I must've missed that episode.

BTW, yesterday when I posted on this thread, I was actually at my dentist's office. I was 30 seconds early for my appointment. They had me in the chair within 1 minute. And it's a busy suburban practice.

My primary-care MD's office, on the other hand, still hasn't called me back...

[NY65912]

I've waited for two hours for a doctor’s appointment and it is frustrating for sure. I have seen a hand specialist whose office runs on schedule to the minute, and you only get the time allotted for your visit, in a very efficient way.

Either way I make concessions for emergencies and other patients needs.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Baz

I would watch - better than what's currently available...

only if they do a Hooters episode





and tell me when they are filming it, Hugh can be the safety consultant

[dtw]

Saucy title. It'd catch on big on Bravo.

Quote de Shaun 84 Targa

you need your own reality TV show.

Great idea. Confrontational reality. Maybe give him a carefully selected sidekick and an unseen commentator's overriding voice heard keeping tabs on the ensuing wacky antics of the two as they are happening.



Hey! For a title, how 'bout, "Keeping Tabs on Ricky and Sammy"?

[azasadny]

I found a local Dr who never makes me wait, gives me the time I need and is very thoughtful, deliberate, thorough and knowledgeable. My father told me about her and I've gotten 3 others to start seeing her as their primary physician as well. There are good Dr's out there who know how to keep appointments, you just have to find them!

[RWebb]

sorry - but posting about your wife does NOT count

[Rick Lee]

UPDATE

Got a very long voicemail from the doctor himself today, as in like five minutes long. It was through his office's message service that calls me and, via recording, tells me to call another number, enter my SS# to hear a message. Sounded like the doctor was at his desk and just rambling a long apology, then flipping through my lab work papers and explaining his concerns and why he wants me to come it. He did say to ask for the first appt. of the day and that this wouldn't happen again with me. So I'll call tomorrow if I get a cell signal and try to set that up for later in the week.

[H.G.P.]

It's called a "courtesy call"

Example: "Hello: "This is Dr. Marcus Welby's office, Dr. Welby has been called into consultation concerning a patient in intensive care, with Dr. Steven Kiley. Your appointment will therefore be re-scheduled for 10:15 AM today, instead of the original 9:30 AM. See you at 10:15 AM today. Thank you".


Land-call
Cell
e-mail
I-Phone

[H.G.P.]

Furthermore: Any professional, can and should make that courtesy call (notification call, cell, e-mail, I-phone) for notification of an adjustment of an appointment time. A simple patient chart preference, pre-arranged contact reference.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

UPDATE

... why he wants me to come i[n]...

He has decided to give you a very large anal probe (purely for "diagnostic" reasons), while having the staff members you afflicted take all their cars and double park to block in your 993, which will also suffer some mysterious bumper damage.


At the same time, the staff will be filming you for that reality show on MDTV called "Bad Patients and How to Get Even."

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Grog

Sorry to inform you that you have 4 weeks to live. Now could you go outside and cry? I have a guy who can't sleep on an airplane next.

Now that really did make me laugh out loud!

[imcarthur]

I had an app't this morning. He took me 5 minutes early - as usual. He even wrote me a script for Percocet just because I wanted some as an emergency away-from-home-kidney-stone reliever & the label had worn off my last stash. My wife was one of his first patients decades ago so we get great service. He usually spends most of the time talking about biking in Croatia or some strange place. For specialists, I have never waited more than 10 minutes. It must be our damn socialist medicine . . .

Ian

[shadowjack1]

I went in for an eye exam today. I had an 11:30 appt. arrived at 11:15, told that the Dr. is not in yet. No problem, I'm early, as usual, 11:30 comes and goes. I'm the first patient, he does not make rounds, so he's just late. At 11:50 I depart. Went to another shop, as a walk in, new glasses will be in next week. Never going back to All Vision.

[kcf7z]

As a physician, I hate to make people wait. If someone has to wait then I apologize immediately. Unfortunately to reiterate many posts above, each patient and problem does not fit a specific and predictable time slot. The other thing I find is if one person is made to wait, then the expectation is that an abundance of time has to be given to that patient and thus one patient that runs over early in the day can equate to a multitude of expectations for the rest of the day and there is never time to make up the delay.

Just remember, physicians for the most part know that it sucks to wait. There is no incentive to make you wait. We know people develop attitudes about making them wait. We are not eating bon bons in the back office.

I tell patients that I give each person the time they need and the next time they are in and their problem requires more time so that it delays another patient that they should consider this before they develop an attitude.

[Burnin' oil]

I had a root canal yesterday. Scheduled start was 2:00. I walked in at 2:00 and was in the chair 10 seconds later. My dentist never keeps people waiting.

I have an annual exam this afternoon at 1:30. Guaranteed to wait at least 45 minutes, perhaps even an hour, sitting amongst a dozen barely living geriatrics. But I really like my doc and his nurse so I'll endure the wait.

One day some dude is rooting around in my mouth for a couple hours. The next, some dude is rooting around in my nether regions, hopefully for less than a couple hours (this time).

Can it get any better than this? I submit that it CANNOT!

[Langers]

I need to get some Ambien for two upcoming trans-Pacific flights. And I don't think I want my blood pressure checked after this episode.

Enjoy your deep vein thrombosis.

[flipper35]

I rarely have to wait long to see my doc. I get there and about 4 paragraphs into an article I go to the exam room. Get temp, bp, etc. Wait a few more minutes and the doc comes in and goes over everything, asks if there is anything else I need to talk to him then I go back to work. I can usually be back to work in under an hour and I have to drive across town to get to the dr's office.

[Burnin' oil]

No wait today. Great exam. Somebody get me a cigarette.