How long a wait is acceptable at a doctor's office?

[Edwin Santos]

My appointment for a consult with a new doctor was for 11:15. I showed up at 11:05 knowing I would need to do some paperwork. Finished the paperwork in about five minutes so now it's 11:10.

At 12:15, after inquiring and being told the doctor is still with other patients, I walked out. No communication up to this point such as "the doctor will be xx minutes, sorry for the inconvenience". Nothing.

My position - on time is great. 15 minutes is probably to be expected. 45 minutes is pushing it.

But I feel an hour's delay (with no end in sight) is downright unreasonable and inconsiderate of the patient's time.
Am I the one being unreasonable here?

Unfortunately, I don't have a relationship with this doctor because it was my first visit. So I just don't know if the delay was unusual or typical.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Is this doctor a surgeon or a specialist that might have to respond to an true medical emergency over a scheduled patient visit? Sometimes there are really important reasons for a doctor's delay even if they are just a general or family practitioner. Say somebody shows up for a scheduled appointment and has an infection that might require immediate treatment. For reasons of patient privacy laws (HIPPA) staff are severely limited in what they can say other than "The doctor is with another patient right now." They can't say "she or he is lancing a boil right now or cleaning a wound." Beyond that there is a tremendous shortage of doctor's nation wide.

[Robert Engel]

As a medical professional (not humans) who sees patients daily I do have knowledge of what can happen, and yes, backups can occur, but often its simply office mismanagement, ie too many appointments/too close together. But in a corporate owned practice, the office may have no control over the appointment policies. In most corporate practices in my profession, Drs are subject to periodic "production reviews".

You haven't seen anything yet if/when we go to government healthcare.

My SIL in Canada told me its 3 months out to get a dermatologist appt. She asked what if she had a very bad rash & couldn't wait that long? They told her go to the ER.

There is a movie I highly recommend everyone watch called "Escape Fire - The fight save healthcare". It will really open your eyes to the reality of medicine.

[Mike Null]

We have been very lucky in this regard. Our PCP is always on time or early. The dentist, the same. Our pain doctor is busy but generally 15 minutes has been our worst experience. The ophthalmologist can keep us waiting up to 30 minutes but is usually faster.

I have had strong words with our former pain doctor who kept us waiting for 45 minutes or more and he advised me to find another doctor. My wife was the one with the pain or I would have taken him up on it in a flash.

Waiting an hour or more is inexcusable.

[Dave Anderson NH]

James Pallas

As a volunteer at the Manchester NH VA Medical Center I would tell you to document and then complain. If the problem was in urgent care then you are at the mercy of the quantity of patients ahead of you since the workload is unpredictable. If it was a scheduled appointment then complain in person or via email to the Patient Advocate. Manchester had serious problems 4 years ago. The Director, Asst Director, Chief of Staff , and the Nursing head were all canned. We are now rated in the top ten in the country for wait times, employee morale has improved, and most importantly patients are seen as customers and are satisfied. It was all a question of leadership. Monthly "town meetings" are held for veterans and staff and no topic is taboo. I was at one yesterday afternoon.

[James Pallas]

James Pallas

As a volunteer at the Manchester NH VA Medical Center I would tell you to document and then complain. If the problem was in urgent care then you are at the mercy of the quantity of patients ahead of you since the workload is unpredictable. If it was a scheduled appointment then complain in person or via email to the Patient Advocate. Manchester had serious problems 4 years ago. The Director, Asst Director, Chief of Staff , and the Nursing head were all canned. We are now rated in the top ten in the country for wait times, employee morale has improved, and most importantly patients are seen as customers and are satisfied. It was all a question of leadership. Monthly "town meetings" are held for veterans and staff and o topic is taboo. I was at one yesterday afternoon.

I'm well aware that things are getting better. Some places better than others. I'm grateful that things are better where you are. Thank you for volunteering it is a great service on your part.
Jim

[Jim Koepke]

FWIW, I recently went to my doctor and he asked me go go online (dont recall just where) and rate them. He said insurance companies were starting to look at patient ratings as a factor in doctor contracts.

My healthcare provider has "satisfaction surveys" after almost every visit. They arrive via email and can be answered or ignored.

Another point of interest that came to mind is they are a "not for profit" healthcare provider.

My recollection is the healthcare market took a turn for the worse when "for profit" entities became involved.

jtk

[Darcy Warner]

None, I don't go.

[Mike Henderson]

My healthcare provider has "satisfaction surveys" after almost every visit. They arrive via email and can be answered or ignored.

Another point of interest that came to mind is they are a "not for profit" healthcare provider.

My recollection is the healthcare market took a turn for the worse when "for profit" entities became involved.

jtk

Doctors, whether a sole practice, a group practice, or a corporation, are all "for profit". Some of the specialities make a lot of money. Radiologists used to be the most highly compensated (over $500K/year per doctor average) with orthopaedic surgeons a very close second. This is their take home, not the amount they charge and then have to pay their staff and rent from.

Some dermatologists and plastic surgeons can make very big bucks, but not all of them do.

Primary care used to be one of the worse compensated.

Doctors in a successful group practice in a large city do quite well, in general, no matter what their speciality. The problem they all face is that they're selling time and many get tired of working the long hours.

Mike

[But don't cry for the primary care doctors - they've figured out how to increase their income. It's called a "Concierge practice". The doctor limits his/her practice to a relatively small group of people - let's say 400. Those people pay the doctor a flat fee each year for the privilege of being able to see the doctor. That could be $2,000 per person per year. That gives the doctor $800,000 in additional income over and above the insurance and Medicare payment s/he receives for providing service.

For this fee, the patient is guaranteed to be able to see the doctor either the same day or the next day when they call for an appointment. And no waiting in the waiting room. The doctor can spend more time with the patient and does not have to work the number of hours to make the same amount of money as in a non-concierge practice.

Of course, this only works in fairly wealthy urban environments.]

[Larry Frank]

Thank God for my doctors.....

[Mike Henderson]

The problem is whether you really need to see that doctor or whether you can make another appointment or go to another doctor.

What I use to do after waiting a reasonable time is I'd go to the desk and tell them that we need to make another appointment because I can't wait any longer. That usually caused them to get me into an exam room immediately. If they would leave me in the exam room, I'd walk out.

The doctors dislike having any dead space in their appointments because that's time when they're not earning anything. So the front desk overbooks and expects that people will wait.

I understand that things happen and sometimes the doctor is delayed. If that happens, the front desk has to get proactive and keep people informed and maybe reschedule some of the appointments - not just leave people waiting and wondering.

If you can walk (you don't really need to see that doctor immediately) that's the best thing to do. And then go to another doctor who has more consideration for their patients.

Mike

[Dave Anderson NH]

I was sent to a very fine orthopedic specialist many year ago. After an hour wait we were told the doctor had to take care of an emergency but was trying to catch up. At the 2 hour point I went and told the people I couldn't wait any longer and was leaving. I would expect a refund check for my copay to be mailed to me. They hustled me right into an exam room. After another 20 minutes and no doctor I told them I had to leave since guests were coming from VA. I left, got a refund check a week later, and called my primary care doc for anther referral to another specialist who saw me on time. Things happen, but physicians also have to realize patients are paying customers and they are just a vendor who can be replaced. Disregard for the customer is inexcusable in any field of endeavor.

[Charlie Knauer]

I have been a frequent flier lately to various doctors. My Oncologist referred me to an Urologist to remove my right kidney. The day before surgery I had to take laxatives and drink magnesium nitrate to clean out. Also no eating after midnight. My surgery was to be at 3:30pm.
At 11:30 on the day of surgery he calls me and wants to change it for two days later. No this is not ok I told them. I did not get taken into O.R until 6pm. My wife took vacation to be with me, waiting two days would have wasted her time. Today I had a 10am appt. for follow up and was not seen until 11. I think this guys wait times are unreasonable and have told him so. He blows it off. Hopefully I only have a few more visits to his office.

[George Bokros]

Years ago we had an appointment with a dermatologist for my son. We had a 7:30 pm appointment. We arrived at 7:10. The office was packed, not a seat available and people were even waiting in the hall. I asked several of the others waiting and found out they all had appointments for 7:30. We waited never went back.

[Mel Fulks]

We have a local hospital that has a pharmacy. Huge place with lots of seats. You sign in and wait for them to call you.
After a long wait they sometimes call you for more info. Most think they will be getting their medicine and are grumpy about waiting longer. I have vowed to never go there again ,but the Docs there kinda push the place to patients. Few
years ago a couple was put through the hospital's sick little joke. The man complained loudly. A security guard ,with no
warning picked the guy up and slammed him to the floor. Head first and he died right there. The guard is in prison,and I
sincerely hope it's one with poor medical care. I can't say what an acceptable wait would be, some might have been killed
earlier.