$:@&$/@ doctors!!!

[red]

I was 10mins late to an appt. earlier, they let me sit for 10mins. then tell me they have to reschedule me because I was late. Am I expecting to much? i have to sit there for 10-45mins. when I AM on time!!

I was released Monday from the 4 day hospital stay after having a dangerous infection (on my face!) they wanted a soon follow up...3 days was purdy fast... Now sorry reschedule for next week... Don't sound like a concerned fast follow up any more... Bout ready to change docs, this is the second time he's ticked me off! Any recommendations?

[Huntingnut]

Don't go back. If the infection wasn't under control, they would not have let you out. This doc is just padding his pocket; and you are right, if it had been important, you would have been seen.

[Habanarrow]

man i know how u feel, I had to go for a referral the other day at 9:15 am....... 11:29 am, sorry mr. the doctor will see you now.
I'd change him/her faster than i change underoos

[Encinal]

Good doctors are worth their weight in gold... bad ones... don't get me started.

[Clintbow]

I have several doctor friends and they tell me they overbook so they can make more money, but they won't admit this publicly. It's wrong. If you went to see an architect, accountant or ANY other professional person, would you wait 45 min/hour to see them? Heck no. You'd leave upset. Doctors do the world so much good, but they need to understand their patients' time is valuable also.

[grizzman]

Do what I did a week ago. I had a 10:15 appointment (10 minutes early) and at 10:45 I'm still sitting in the waiting room and I see people that came in after me going on back. I get on the phone and confirm with my wife that she made the appointment for 10:15 and I didn't misunderstand her.

I go to the receptionist and tell her that I had a 10:15 and it was 10:45 and I was still sitting there. She said "we have a lot of people". At this point my voice is calm but clear and louder. "I want to see someone NOW or I will walk out and never come back. This is part of the reason I left my last doctor".

She goes back to talk to the office manager and I'm escorted to her office. She tries to act like a teacher and says "So, what is the problem". I say "the problem is that my appointment was for 30 mins ago, I haven't seen anyone yet, and I took off from work to come here when your office could have just phoned in a prescription for a Z-pak for me".

The office manager was the one that botched the insurance and scheduling of my colonoscophy so I'm not real impressed anyway. She starts "we have other patients...". I say "Let me stop you. You are about to have two less patients, because I'm about to walk out of here and never come back as will my wife. You can explain to the doctor why he lost two good patients with good insurance coverage".

She starts "well we can't....". I say "I'm out of here", and turn around and start walking towards the door. I never saw a group of people move so fast to get someone to see me in a doctor's office. The office manager tries to tell me "well we have a lot of problems this morning". I said "I really don't care about your problems, since you don't care about mine". I was out of there in ten minutes with the prescription phoned in.

Sometimes, you have to be the squeaky wheel.

[Ron]

Years ago I waited for the Doctor to see me and when he finally sees me and ask how I'm doing, I just tell him. I have an important job, important to me anyway and like you my time is valuable.
From that day forward he sees me the minute I walk in. I guess he made some kind of note on my charts, because they never make me wait.

[bdchorn]

I have several doctor friends and they tell me they overbook so they can make more money, but they won't admit this publicly. It's wrong. If you went to see an architect, accountant or ANY other professional person, would you wait 45 min/hour to see them? Heck no. You'd leave upset. Doctors do the world so much good, but they need to understand their patients' time is valuable also.

This is true, but it's also true that medicare and insurance companies cut docs co pay so much that they overbook and still make 30% - 40% less than they did 5 years ago. It's no different than any other business..........ultimately the hardship, cost, etc of doing business is passed to the consumer.

[DepotDan]

I have changed Dr. before for the same reason. Once every now and then, but not every time. Same thing with paying for parking, if I have to pay, I am not going back.

[systemnt]

I would have told them to deduct the 10 minutes from the 45 minutes id be sitting in the room waiting on the doctor.

[Todd-ty729]

Do what I did a week ago. I had a 10:15 appointment (10 minutes early) and at 10:45 I'm still sitting in the waiting room and I see people that came in after me going on back. I get on the phone and confirm with my wife that she made the appointment for 10:15 and I didn't misunderstand her.

I go to the receptionist and tell her that I had a 10:15 and it was 10:45 and I was still sitting there. She said "we have a lot of people". At this point my voice is calm but clear and louder. "I want to see someone NOW or I will walk out and never come back. This is part of the reason I left my last doctor".

She goes back to talk to the office manager and I'm escorted to her office. She tries to act like a teacher and says "So, what is the problem". I say "the problem is that my appointment was for 30 mins ago, I haven't seen anyone yet, and I took off from work to come here when your office could have just phoned in a prescription for a Z-pak for me".

The office manager was the one that botched the insurance and scheduling of my colonoscophy so I'm not real impressed anyway. She starts "we have other patients...". I say "Let me stop you. You are about to have two less patients, because I'm about to walk out of here and never come back as will my wife. You can explain to the doctor why he lost two good patients with good insurance coverage".

She starts "well we can't....". I say "I'm out of here", and turn around and start walking towards the door. I never saw a group of people move so fast to get someone to see me in a doctor's office. The office manager tries to tell me "well we have a lot of problems this morning". I said "I really don't care about your problems, since you don't care about mine". I was out of there in ten minutes with the prescription phoned in.

Sometimes, you have to be the squeaky wheel.

Seems you handled this well!

You were ready to speak with your wallet!

It is much easier to loose a customer and very costly to gain a replacment!

[tgil]

I like the ones that have a sign hanging in their waiting rooms that states you will be charged a fee for being late, or missing your appointment, yet it's always a minimum wait of 30-45 mins after your scheduled appointment time.
Oh, and by the way, I use Care Now every chance I can and do web check-in. The one here in town told me their protocol is to have you in a room within ten minutes of your arrival time. I know a lot of people don't like them, but I've always been seen right away, once there, and I get to do whatever I need/want up until the time they call and tell me to come in.

[T-Bone]

What makes me so mad is when I take my son in for his well visit and have to wait with all of the sick kids. He is 4 and everytime he goes in for his yearly well visit we have to wait at least 45 mins. We have changed doctors for him twice over the issue and same wait at both of them.

[elkbowhunter]

Do what I did a week ago. I had a 10:15 appointment (10 minutes early) and at 10:45 I'm still sitting in the waiting room and I see people that came in after me going on back. I get on the phone and confirm with my wife that she made the appointment for 10:15 and I didn't misunderstand her.

I go to the receptionist and tell her that I had a 10:15 and it was 10:45 and I was still sitting there. She said "we have a lot of people". At this point my voice is calm but clear and louder. "I want to see someone NOW or I will walk out and never come back. This is part of the reason I left my last doctor".

She goes back to talk to the office manager and I'm escorted to her office. She tries to act like a teacher and says "So, what is the problem". I say "the problem is that my appointment was for 30 mins ago, I haven't seen anyone yet, and I took off from work to come here when your office could have just phoned in a prescription for a Z-pak for me".

The office manager was the one that botched the insurance and scheduling of my colonoscophy so I'm not real impressed anyway. She starts "we have other patients...". I say "Let me stop you. You are about to have two less patients, because I'm about to walk out of here and never come back as will my wife. You can explain to the doctor why he lost two good patients with good insurance coverage".

She starts "well we can't....". I say "I'm out of here", and turn around and start walking towards the door. I never saw a group of people move so fast to get someone to see me in a doctor's office. The office manager tries to tell me "well we have a lot of problems this morning". I said "I really don't care about your problems, since you don't care about mine". I was out of there in ten minutes with the prescription phoned in.

Sometimes, you have to be the squeaky wheel.

===================

Man....that is one cool story!!! My hats off to your holding people accountable. I have had similar circumstances in which in the end the receptionist was fired for her attitude. They forget who they are serving!!

[Atfulldraw]

What makes me so mad is when I take my son in for his well visit and have to wait with all of the sick kids. He is 4 and everytime he goes in for his yearly well visit we have to wait at least 45 mins. We have changed doctors for him twice over the issue and same wait at both of them.

My kid's doc has two waiting rooms - one just for sick kids.

I'd find one that values your children's good health......