Something from Les most worthy of posting

[Ross]

Tell me, is this not true?

 

[Karlynn]

Now there's a perfect cartoon!

 

[Mary]

Amen!


Mary

 

[tobagotwo]

When my cardiologist had me set up an appointment for me with his electrophysiologist teammate, I set it up six weeks ahead for lunchtime, so I would not have to take off from work. The staff kept moving the appointment around, and when I got there, I waited almost an hour. The waiting room was filling up behind me.

So I went to the desk and said I needed to reschedule, as I had to return to work. They were shocked, and said they'd go ask the doctor if that was all right. I assured them I didn't need the doctor's approval to leave (unbelievable!). Then they said they could bring me into the exam room right then. I pointed out that waiting in the exam room was no different from waiting in the waiting room, except that there are no magazines. My fellow waitees chimed in with a chorus of agreement.

I said I wasn't unhappy about it, as I was glad he was spending the time that was needed with each patient. When they couldn't come up with a replacement date that wasn't during prime work hours, I said I'd call them. And I left.

The next time I came in for the electrophysiologist, I only waited five minutes. And when I saw my original cardiologist again, he actually apologized to me for his partner having made me wait.

Very cool. While I recognize that things will force good doctors off schedule, I think we should all do this more often. A visit to the cardiiologist is not a vacation day, and we who contract for their services should not be considered chattel.

Best wishes,

 

[Bryan B]

The problem is that they set up their appointments assuming there will be no snags throughout the day. We all know that's being pretty unrealistic. I think the best time to make an appointment is one of the following times:

One of the first appointments of the day
One of the first appointments after their lunch break
One of the last appointments of the day

Although this is not always possible to do, this strategy has worked pretty well for me. Before my long stretch of sickness culminating in BE and subsequent procedures and surgeries I used to have problems with severe "waiting room" anxiety, so I tried to get appointments that would be most likely to have short waits. Now a 1-2 hour wait doesn't phase me. I usually try to find a seat in the waiting room where I can prop my head against the wall, close my eyes, and just relax and maybe even doze off. During my long stretch of being sick before they figured out I had BE I often had to call and be "worked in". The dreaded "worked in" usually guarantees a 1-2 hour wait in the waiting room and another 30 minute wait in the exam room.

Ross, that is a great cartoon...I wonder if doctors would enjoy it?

 

[Harpoon]

It seems "common courtesy" to me that if you know you're not going to make an appointment for whatever reason, you should let the other person know.

This shouldn't just apply to patients (my primary physician's office has a policy that includes charging a patient who either skips/misses an appointment or doesn't give at least 24 hour notice that they won't make it) but to doctors as well.

You're a doctor, you're seeing a lot of "bad" cases today and you're behind in your schedule. Know this, admit it, and ask your office staff to talk to the "less urgent" patients, those in for routine physicals or other minor problems, if they'd like to reschedule for another date BEFORE they've been sitting in the waiting from for an hour and a half past their appointment time.

It should go both ways.

Obviously, if you're sick or you're there for a special blood test or some other urgent "business" you should be seen as soon as possible, even if that means speaking with an LPN or RN who may act on behalf of your regular doctor to offer some treatment or relief. I've seen nurses before for illnesses that needed medical attention. I even set up an appointment recently to see one of the practices nurses because I wanted to be seen right away and didn't want to wait for an open slot with my regular doctor. She looked me over and made an assessment of my condition and a possible course of treatment, but refered to another doctor in the practice for confirmation and THAT doctor came in to take a quick look and OK her diagnosis. I didn't really NEED to see a fully licensed family physician for the problem I was having. The nurse was fine and it was her decision to call in the doctor just to back up her own judgement.


Doctors should make a conscious effort to admit they're overbooked for a day and ask to reschedule "less urgent" patients when it happens. And if it happens a lot, maybe they need to reevaluate their scheduling pratices.

 

[Ross]

I so want to bill mine for my excessive waiting room times and for rescheduling appointments made 4 months in advance. Heck I want to bill for the Oxygen used while waiting also.

I agree, it should go both ways, but it doesn't.