Can someone explain...

[Camelot Farms]

how one Dr. can schedule 3 patients for the same time slot?

I just dont get it. DH and DD had a 1:30 appt. 1st one after the lunch break. Its now 2:15 and they are still in waiting room cause the 'other' 1:30 appts got called first.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

 

[canada-goose]

Maybe the doctor needs to see a psychiatrist....

 

[Cetawin]

Because they are a PITA! I hate going to the Dr. you wait and wait and wait like your time is worth nothing but their time is....bah hate it

 

[redstars]

It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$ Cash!
You wait 20 to 30 minutes in your undergarments sitting on a exam table covered with paper
that makes more noise than a hail storm on a tin roof every time you move.
for about 2 to 3 minutes with the busy doctor. Then he or she rushes out like Clark Kent on to the next
$300.00 Bucks!

 

[Rosalind]

It depends on the type of appointment. They are probably trying to multi-task.

Example:

Patient A is there for a regular checkup
Patient B is there with Swine Flu
Patient C is there for a follow-up on their latest heart medication adjustment

Patient A can have their weight, blood pressure and current history done by the nurse or physician assistant, then can be put in a room to undress and get the paper gown on. That will take several minutes. Meanwhile, a med tech can take a blood sample from Patient C. While the nurse is handing out healthy-eating pamphlets and the med tech is drawing blood, the doctor can write Patient B a note for work and recommend Mucinex before sending Patient B on her way. As the physician's assistant is reviewing Patient A's history, the doctor chats with Patient C about his symptoms and hands him a pamphlet about low sodium diets. By the time Patient C is out the door, ideally Patient A is ready for her official exam.

If Patient B suddenly barfs on the floor, or if Patient C turns out to have some especially awful complication that requires more attention and an immediate referral to a specialist, you can see how Patient A may be stuck in a freezing exam room wearing only a tissue-paper gown for a while.

Some doctors have switched to what's called "open access scheduling" where they only schedule a few real appointments per day, no more than a couple of weeks in advance, and they just assume that the rest of the day will fill up with not-quite-emergencies--and it does, without fail. This leaves them time to spend with the scheduled patients (because they are not overbooked) while at the same time ensuring that minor injuries and ailments are treated while they are still small problems. My doctor does this, and it is freakin' AWESOME. Maybe you could suggest it to your doc?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Yes, that is what we do. Only a few appointments a day and then walk-ins. Usually we stay quite busy and people don't mind waiting because they want to be seen and didn't make an appointment first. Unless there is an emergency we can usually have people in and being sen within 1/2 hour.
Of course we have lots of magazines, Wi-Fi, chess table, toys for children, sudoku ect...to help pass the time. And for those who live locally we will even let them go home if we are busy and have them call and see where in the "Q" they are.
I don't know that it is all about the $ for most doctors. They have a client list who want to see them and the only way to fit them all in is to stagger them sometimes. At least they don't have to go somewhere else to see someone they don't want.
I know how frustrating it is to wait and wait. And believe me, we feel awful when you do. My DH sometimes never gets lunch or perhaps two minutes to grab a literal bite to eat because he doesn't want to keep the patients waiting. 8-7 is a long time to go without a break.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Yep, that's how it always happens for me. However I only go for those "not quite emergency" type visits, so it's not like I had a longstanding appointment or anything. I was sick, and had a fever, and it was cold, and I was just about to curl up in a ball to take a nap I was tired of waiting but dang I NEEDED those medicines!!! $240+ and one day on the meds and it was all worth it!

FIL went in for an early morning appt. the other day, to have some bloodwork done and after he got in there they said he didn't need to have it done. THAT ticked him off!!

 

[StupidBird]

But there's nothing like being able to walk into the packed pediatrician's office Friday morning with son and camp forms for Friday Night departure because the last form expired and being seen that morning to get the full workup for High Adventure camp. I sweetened the deal with 2 dozen of Dunkin's finest. this is the same office I usually have to call in weeks and weeks prior for an appointment for physicals.

 

[Mattemma]

If the wait is 30 minutes past the scheduled appointment we let them know why we are leaving.Lol,my mom was walking out on her doctor as she walked in 45 minutes after my mom was put in the second waiting room aka patient exam room.

 

[redstars]

It is frustrating when you have to wait soooo long and then feel like you are being rushed
when the doctor finally gets to you. I am not saying it's all doctors and I should have said that in my previous
post. It is wrong to group everyone in with a few money grabbers. All I know is when I have a regular scheduled visit
I wait. When I go to the walk in clinic I get in quick. So you can guess where I go.