NWR- but this really annoys me

why are doctors never on time- my poor FH has been waiting at the doctors office since 1pm- and there are still 2 people ahead of him

He told them he has a closing and must be back at his office by 3pm! they don't care- luckily he is the boss- but how annoying!

plus last time he went to this doctors other office they made him wait until 4:30 then told him they couldn't see him w/o his MRI!

(he wants to see this doctor b/c he is a speacialist and comes highly recommened- my FH has 3 crushed vertibrate in his neck and is in constant pain)

I feel so bad for him, he wont leave b/c he has waited for this appiontment for over a month!

they better be able to help him!

sorry for the long vent!

I know exactly what your saying--My FI has two herniated disks in his back and one of his doctors you have to wait at least over an hour--you would think that all these people were in pain they would honor people's appointments.

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Posted by Suzannebride

That is soooooooo frustrating. Why is it that our time is so m uch less important than the doctor's? Someone was telling me, and I don't know if this is actually true, about a lawyer that billed the doctor for the time he spent in the waiting room. I HOPE it's s true story and I wish we could all do that. Hope your FH is able to get some help and feel better!

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yep, this story is true - I'm not sure if it was a lawyer, but I read a story a few years ago about someone that sued their doctor because their time was actually more valuable than the dr's!! I love that story - so good.

I work for a specialist whose wait time is notorious.

In this office, the length our wait time is based on a few factors.

First (and most often) is over booking. The same way the airlines overbook, the Doctor over books. If people don't show, or cancel the Doc has to compensate for the possible loss. However, more often than not - everyone shows plus a few extras. If its a surgeons office, and his post op visits take up a bulk of the day- most of those are non-pay visits. So they have to make up the time with 2 other insurance paying visits. etc, etc.

Second are the emergencies and add ons. All day primary Docs call with patients that 'must be seen' that same day. (most of the time for the most trivial things) But I already have a full schedule of patients who have made appointments 2 weeks ago. Doesn't matter. In a specialists office your referring Docs are your lifeline... so we have to see those people that day. And since he is a surgeon, we get emergency cases all the time that justifiably must be seen ahead of everyone with an appointment.

Third is the damn phone. He gets calls all day long, and messages all day long. Most are work related (other Doctors, pathologists, etc) some are personal. 50 - 1 minute phone calls add up quick throughout the day.

I could go on. I don't agree with the overbooking that goes on in this office, but it is not my decision. I wish we didn't overbook so I wouldn't have to be cursed out daily by patients.

Basicly its all about money, insurance doesn't pay out what it use to - so Docs are finding other ways to make the same amount of money each day.

*** sorry for the rant. my job gets to me some days!

I am an office manager for an oral surgeon and i can tell you that as an employee, we hate running late too! 99 times out of 100 we run late, simply because we get tons of emergencies. if a pt calls w/ pain or swelling etc. etc. we HAVE to take them. all it takes is one emergency to throw us completely off. also, we do surgery here. we can only estimate how long a procedure will take on someone... you and i can both get the same tooth out, and on me it could take 20 minutes and on you it could take an hour and a half.

I too hate when my doctor runs late, but i understand why so I try not to let it get to me. now fh goes to an orthopedic surgeon whenever he injurs himself playing sports lol and he waits a good 2 HOURS almost every single time, and his aunt's both work there!!! that just drives me NUTS!


ETA: itslaurie.... amen lol i feel your pain.

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Posted by exotica776

ETA: itslaurie.... amen lol i feel your pain.

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ditto! my fellow healthcare worker!

he finally got seen! he just left - he needs to get a new MRI- I told him to make his next appiontment for the first one of the day- it should help

and that way he wont be missing work- b/c he normally doesn't go in until 11am

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Posted by Beth1210

he finally got seen! he just left - he needs to get a new MRI- I told him to make his next appiontment for the first one of the day- it should help

and that way he wont be missing work- b/c he normally doesn't go in until 11am

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your best bet to get the first appt of the day.

I manage a hand surgery practice and the wait time is our office is usually pretty long due to double booking and surgeries running late. As far as double booking, that is the doctor's orders so we can't stop doing that. As for surgeries, it is very hard to estimate how long they will take. Our doctor also travels from a hospital in the Bronx to our office and often gets stuck in traffic so you can imagine the frustration with my receptionists as well as the patients.
My advice to frustrated patients is to bring this issue up with the doctor because most patients are rude to my receptionist when this happens, and there is nothing she can do. Some patients even make her cry.
I don't think the doctors time is more valuable at all, but he is not dilly dallying all day and trying to make people wait. He is performing surgery. In any case, speak with the doctor or office manager about it. As far as not telling the patient they need a new MRI when they first come in..............that was a mistake on the part of the receptionist.