appointment--15 minutes!! | Arthritis Information

Hi all, Well, I'm doing Remicade on the 25th of June and thought I'd schedule an appointment for 15 minutes after, to tell the doctor, how I'm doing and all.

Well, when I called the nurse I asked to make a 15 minute appointment, 'she said, 'Sorry he's all booked up on that date. I said, 'dang' , I ddin't want to make another 'regular appointment' and take up a lot of his time", She said, " OH, THAT IS A REGULAR APPOINTMENT'!! WHAT!!!

Geeze, no wonder we don't get answers to our questions, feel rushed, and un satisfied with our doctors. 15 minutes is never enough time to go down my list (I still forget things!) and get answers.

So, if yu are wondering why you feel rushed---you are rushed!

The next 15minutes he has available is in JULY!!! Ugh~

None of my actual appointments last more than 15 minutes. Actually I can cover a lot of ground in 15 minutes.

The majority of the time spent at the doctors office is sucked up in the waiting room......then another 10 waiting in the actual exam room.....then the actual 15 minute doctor appointment......then another 10 mintues in the lab getting blood work done.

Not unusual at all in my experience.

Yep, Lovie, I think you just about covered it. I'm sure I dont get more than 15 minutes with the actual doctor.

I've never had more than 15 minutes with my doctors after the initial appointments. I'm a pretty complicated case due to other medical issues and my age. I can get it all covered in those 15 minutes and still have a few minutes to joke around or just chat. I've been there longer when I was going to have labs or xrays. Even my appt. with the orthopod re: knee surgery was less than 15 minutes and I had it all covered.

If you need more time then demand it. I've only ever done that once, several years ago. The doctor sat back down and answered my questions. The usual is 1/2 hour for new patients or complicated issues, 15 minutes for established patients. That has been the norm for years. In the area where we live the doctor's office sees an average of between 20 and 30 patients a day and some type of schedule has to be adhered to. The office staff likes to get out of work on time and go home to their families.

I usually make sure that I don't take more time than necessary. Both of my doctors adhere to a pretty strict schedule and I respect that as long as all the patients are taken care of and I believe they are. I'm always a few minutes early for my appointments and am seen right away. I never have to wait.

My appts are usually 15 minutes also. You learn how to cover everything in that time and like Lovie said...have time to joke around a little bit. It helps to come in with a prepared list of things you want to talk about so there is no time wasted sitting there going uhhhhh.....what exactly was it again I wanted to talk to you about?? The list is good. It usually works for me. Some docs will go over the 15 minutes to finish the list!

Hi all, I guess I've been asleep on this 'only 15 minutes', but now that I think of it 'the docs' always seem in a big hurry, start to move out the door after (I guess 15 minutes!) considering I'm paying 0 bucks, and the insurance 00 on that day it would seem he could spare a few minutes with me!! now I know what's going on.....

I guess I shoulda taken the July appointment.

I go to my doctor super organised with a list of questions and needs, so it
can be done in 15 minutes or less. There's a lot of people with AI diseases
and not so many rheumatologists so I guess that's why they watch the clock!just walk into the office after the appt and see if you can sneak in for a few minutes. It won't hurt to try

Yep 15 minute appointments seem to be the magical number. I've always felt rushed in the past but not anymore. If we can cover what we need to cover in 15 minutes great but if not and BY GOLLY I need more than 15 minutes of your time I'll lasso and hog tie you if I have to but you're not going to leave me hanging! It's not my problem if your office protocol is 15 minute appointments. Either change the protocol, take up 2 appointments when you know I'm coming in or invite me to your house for dinner cuz we're going to take care of business. I will do my part to be efficient and organized as I know they have a lot of patients but DO NOT rush me when it comes to my health. Unfortunately IMO...I believe that our healthcare system is greatly responisble for a lot of this. The doctors are practically forced into quanity vs quality. It's turned into a real assembly line and as much as it irritates us....it's got to completely burn them out.

Peace & Love...Neasy