How long do you wait for a Doctor?

Post by **Whiskey 7** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:11 am

Easy enough.

You arrive on or just before your appointment time with a Doctor, Specialist, Dentist or the like. Throw in an Accountant or Legal Practitioner.
You know these people I mean.
Lots of people wanting to see them for the professional assistance/advise/help.

You sit waiting patiently (pun) and you wait, wait, wait.

I walked away at one hour when the receptionist didn't tell me squat.
I was pissed off, no end indeed

When do you walk away?

Just interested.

Post by **MKJ** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:22 am

i wait about 10 mins before going over to the assistant.

seriously, why do you have to make a scheduled appointment when you have to wait regardless?
you try showing up 5 mins late, theyll tell you to make a new appointment and then bill you for the "missed" one.

f them

Post by **Whiskey 7** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:42 am

MKJ wrote:.................

f them

Yes I was thinking of sending the Doctor an account for my hour wasted

Post by **SoM** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:28 am

assistant is right away

doc, depends

or just go to the ER 5 mins walk, way more help

Post by **Κracus** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:34 pm

I try to book appointments right before lunchtime. Doc's like to go on lunches therefore make sure to take you ontime so they can get out.

Post by **MKJ** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:37 pm

protip there kracus

Post by **Κracus** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:58 pm

2 kids... I've learned things...

Post by **Ryoki** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:59 pm

Got a bit lucky with my GP, he works in a small clinic that houses 2 other GP's - so when one appointment runs late they take over each others clients. Never had to wait for more than 10 mins, and i never make an appointment.

Post by **werldhed** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:14 pm

Usually docs are late because their patients are late. I don't know how it works in socialist Europe, but in the US, many (most?) clinics require docs to see patients as long as they show up within a certain time frame. I don't remember what that time is exactly, and it probably varies between clinics, but some at some places the patient can show up 45 minutes late, and the doc still has to see them. That of course throws off everyone's schedule.

The other problem is hospital administration requiring docs to take more and more patients each day. Typically, docs are given 15 minutes for a typical exam. That's obviously not enough time, so the schedule starts to get backed up. Of course, this is probably completely different outside the malformed abortion we call US healthcare.

Protip: schedule a doctor visit early in the day, before all the other patients can make you late.

Post by **MKJ** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:16 pm

werldhed wrote:
Protip: schedule a doctor visit early in the day, before all the other patients can make you late.

'swhat I do.. doesnt work as flawlessly as you'd imagine

Post by **Κracus** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:17 pm

Yeah that one doesn't work out as well as I'd liked it to as well. I tried all the angles, before lunchtime worked best for me.

Post by **andyman** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:22 pm

i wait over a year sometimes to go to the doctor. gotta be sure

Post by **Peenyuh** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:57 pm

I don't have any tolerance for health care people. If it's not an ER situation, I take care of it myself. Plenty of over-the-counter meds to choose from, and endless information on the internet. So, unless it's a broken bone, or yer liver's hangin out... rub some dirt on it and get back in the game.

Post by **scared?** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:32 pm

mexicans are killing the healthcare system...thx...

Post by **dubz** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:44 pm

Peenyuh wrote:I don't have any tolerance for health care people. If it's not an ER situation, I take care of it myself. Plenty of over-the-counter meds to choose from, and endless information on the internet. So, unless it's a broken bone, or yer liver's hangin out... rub some dirt on it and get back in the game.

you say this because its obvious you dont have a proper insurance... in my country everyone gets the same treatment no matter if they are poor or handicaped like you.

i can show up at any doctor any time without an appointment. my trick for not waiting is to show in the last 10 minutes : )

Post by **Tsakali** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:49 pm

lol doctors...possibly even more vainglorious than cops

Post by **seremtan** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:12 pm

MKJ wrote:...tell you to make a new appointment and then bill you for the "missed" one...

"bill you"

Post by **Tsakali** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:32 pm

the times when you actually got a doctor's real care and attention are long gone. good luck with the side effects of hit and miss perscriptions, from over educated vending machines

Post by **plained** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:55 pm

my doctor is super nice and reallly busy!

an authentic French woman and very attractive!

If you have an appointment the wait is pretty minimal

Post by **Tsakali** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:24 pm

that's not your doctor, that's your prostitute

Post by **HM-PuFFNSTuFF** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:24 pm

he always goes 10 minutes before closing

Post by **Tsakali** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:32 pm

lol, and eww

Post by **plained** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:21 pm

she is very sophisticated, fifty-something and very fit.

nangy even!

Post by **Whiskey 7** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:04 am

Thanks all for the feedback

werldhed wrote:.............Protip: schedule a doctor visit early in the day, before all the other patients can make you late.

Yes try that most often of course but I couldn't avoid this after lunch disaster

In hindsight, I was probably too patient to wait the hour, sitting there about to explode...

Interesting poll results also.

I suppose I learned (or is that learnt?) from this to ask "...and is the Doctor running on time?" as I arrive, then ask again at the 15 minute mark and walk away at 30 minutes.

In this case there is no reason on this planet why the receptionist couldn't have said, "Look we're running 30 to 50 minutes behind. Do you a want to go for coffee or something instead of waiting about here?"
Seems now I was insane to wait......

SoM wrote:assistant is right away

doc, depends

or just go to the ER 5 mins walk, way more help

Hey SoM.
Here in Oz you can wait hours in the public ER arena (government & free) or if you're a private patient (pay extra and the most for healthcare) it costs you $250 AUD* for the first consultation but it is swift. (* now about the same as the American dollar)

There are recent media items here on "ramping" where Ambulances (emergency vehicles) wait outside the ER with patients (perhaps dying) to see the emergency staff.

We have admitted (to hospital patients, after ER) on gurneys/hospital trolley beds waiting in hallways for a beds/wards in some cases. The public system here is not much good at all and that's why I pay premium dollars for private health cover. Still doesn't make Doctors run to schedule

I had an appointment too, not just a walk in.

Post by **MKJ** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:52 am

seremtan wrote:
MKJ wrote:...tell you to make a new appointment and then bill you for the "missed" one...
"bill you"

truthfully, i was talking about the dentist there. like Ryoki said, you dont need an appointment (nor money) for the GP.