Dr appt. wait time ? | Arthritis Information

Thanks in advance,

jamie

 

I agree with IslandWomen, but I also have to say that I was one of those emergency cases when I fractured my hip.  I'm sure I backed up the wait time for other patients, but it really couldn't be helped.  That being said, everytime I've ever had to wait(and it really doesn't happen all that often)  the nurse has come in to tell me the doctor had an emergency.

 

I don't know that I would wait hours ..   I can't say... .  I guess if I needed to see that doctor at that time that badly.. I would.

 

Edited: for too many "that" 's i have to wait at my hand surgeon's office. its a good thing I like them or I would have been out of there.  One of them is just very deliberate and he simply takes his time...and heaven forbid if we get off topic on something which we manage to do just about every visit.  his assistant is a saint..she takes good care of me.  In fact I almost never end up in a room waiting I stand around the nurses stations talking to them.  His partner who is also one of my doctors is just way way busy.  He's teaching the fellows, residents, and med students.  He does a lot of visiting professorships so he travels a lot.  I've learned to always make a first appt and am always prepared with a good new book.  He is always late but he is so good you do wait for himIt can happen sometimes and its not the doctors fault, like emergencies but the staff should say something. I think it would be terrible to wait like that if you just had surgery.

guess for that doctor you have to be like your "late" friends-show up 2 hours after appointment time.That is totally unacceptable.  I had 1 dr like that--the one who could not figure out I had RA with all the classic signs.  Anyway, I fired him.  Now with all my drs.  I am called in within 5 to 10 minutes after I get there.   I understand they are busy but I am too and my time is also valuable.  Remember, they work for us--we (our insurance) pay them.  Thanks for your imput, it has helped. I have gone from steaming mad to stewing. It would be different if this just happened occasionally but it is an every time I go event. I have spoken to others and they all have had the same experience. The day of my surgery I was scheduled for 7:30 AM and finally went into the OR at 10:45 AM. He rearranged his schedule for the day without bothering to tell anyone, including the hospital. The staff in outpatient surgery told me it was not unusual, just most of the time they have to call his house and wake him up. He and his 2 associates are the only Orthopedics in town and the next closest ones are a 45 minute drive away. Still, I am beginning to think about it. Grrr, I am still so ticked off!!!!!

I think that it would help if the office manager or someone would at least tell me what is going on, that way I could make an informed decision.

Before I type the answer I intended, I do want to say that the last time I had an office visit with a surgeon, I had the exact same thing.  I do believe (rightly or wrongly) that most surgeons are overwhelmed by the amount of time it takes to care for each patient....the surgery itself, the pre and post office visits, the daily check-ins at the hospital.  So every time I saw him it was a long wait (in the hospital and out) and I barely had any time.  He did not seem uncaring, but as if he had no choice in order to care for the number of patients he had.  I'm not excusing the behavior (or the lack of communication) but it just seem to me that surgeons especially have this issue.

 

In general with my docs, I wait anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes, and after that I tend to get annoyed.  I have waited as long as 2 hours.  It depends on how badly I need to see them (because unfortunately I need them more than they need me), how much time I know they spend with patients and emergencies (I can be very forgiving if I know the doctor really cares about people), how apologetic they or their staff are, and my circumstances that day (did I take off of work, am I feeling horrible, etc).  I live in a densely populated area and most good docs are overrun with patients.  I try, with docs who are habitually late, to call ahead and ask the staff if he's running on time so I wouldn't have to leave work in a rush for no reason, but often they didn't really know because it could change pretty quickly.

 

Anyway, I think you have every right to be upset, as this doc's office seems to be way over the line.  If you need to keep seeing him, I would try the call before you go method to see if you can save yourself a little of the aggravation.

Thanks for the tip, I will try calling ahead the next time.I've waited more than 3 hours at the rheumatologist's.  He's the only one in the area and does overbook sometimes, but other times, there are just a lot of emergencies.  I've noticed that women continue to wait but men don't last more than an hour or so.Surgeons are frequently juggling emergencies and surgeries in addition to their office schedule. I learned that as a child when I was waiting in the office and the receptionist told everyone that the doctor was in an emergency operation.

I plan my whole day around medical appointments so that I don't aggravate myself if the doctor runs late.
I agree that a phone call can save a lot of aggravation. I feel for the people who sneak off during their lunch hour for these appts. you can only take so many days off, and you can't plan all your appts in one day because of the delays. The doctors have to understand  this.