My rant for the week.

[Gregor 4,846]

Monday I had a Dr. appointment in Iowa City. It's almost 2 hours each way. I get there 15 minutes early as they always ask, (I don't know why). I wait in the waiting room for over an hour. All the time other people are coming and going, coming and going, but I just sit. After 45 minutes I ask the receptionist about my appointment. She says they are waiting for a room. Again I sit, other people are coming and going, coming and going.  After another 20 minutes, I ask the receptionist again. "They are waiting for a room"  Other people are still coming and going. Another 10 minutes, I tell the receptionist, I am leaving. She says I can't do that. Oh, I think I can.  I left. How long will you wait in a Dr. office?

[rmaynard 15,428]

I waited in my cardiologists exam room for 45 minutes. When he didn't show, I put my shirt back on and walked out.

 

[Pullstart 62,807]

Could they explain the people coming and going?  Why did they have rooms?  Different rooms for different appointments?  Different staff and doctors?  I can’t stand waiting while others get on with their day with no hiccup.  As long as you’re on time or early, it should be first come, first served.

[953 nut 55,108]

I was called back to a treatment room on time but waited nearly an hour before the Ophthalmogist came in to diagnose my vision problem.  I could have become indignant over the length of time, but I couldn't see (pun intended)  that it help any!

[Gregor 4,846]

47 minutes ago, pullstart said:

Could they explain the people coming and going?

No explanation, They simply didn't have a room. So they said.

 

7 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

 I could have become indignant over the length of time, but I couldn't see (pun intended)  that it help any!

If I were going to be an hour late, I am sure they would have expected a call from ME.

[rmaynard 15,428]

There is no need to get indignant, I agree, but most of these specialists feel that they are better than the rest of us schlubs. We are just a paycheck to them. Whether they see us or not, someone gets billed. Years ago, my attorney (another "I'm better than you" type of guy) went to his cardiologist. The doctor was an hour late, so when the attorney got back to his office, he had his secretary send him a bill for $200.00. When the doctor asked about it, the attorney said the he had wasted 1 hour of his billable time. The doctor actually paid and was never late again.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by rmaynard

[SylvanLakeWH 25,496]

Sad…

 

Reality of many “service” professions nowadays…

 

I’ve recently had the opposite experience, thankfully, but way more typical has been your experience…

[rmaynard 15,428]

And while we are on the subject, does anyone else feel like the pandemic has created a money machine for doctors? I'm talking about TELE-HEALTH. They get paid the same as an actual in-person visit, but have way less expense, and can "see" more clients in the same period of time. And by the way, how do you listen to my heart, take my blood pressure, or check my prostrate over the phone? If possible, I always opt for the in-person visit. I know doctors are busy, but I really want mine to work for his money.

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

I always insist on the first appointment of the day.   Usually 7 or 8 AM.    Also carry a copy of their late or missed appointment penality.   Then show it to them when they are 15 minutes late.

It usually brings some action.

[rmaynard 15,428]

2 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I always insist on the first appointment of the day.   Usually 7 or 8 AM.    Also carry a copy of their late or missed appointment penality.   Then show it to them when they are 15 minutes late.

It usually brings some action.

They always remind us of the penalty for a missed appointment. It's time more people turned the tables on them.

[Gregor 4,846]

11 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Also carry a copy of their late or missed appointment penality.

hmmmm I think I am going to have to send off a letter. 

[WHX?? 48,799]

VA has signs in the waiting room if you been waiting more that 10 minutes let them know. Usually pretty good about wait time and don't give me much time to RS on the phone,  play solitaire or scour CL for tractors...... 

 

Interesting enough they contacted me once about virtual appointments for minor ailments and it worked pretty good. Kinda like skyping. Sadly they never continued with it. 

 

38 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

us schlubs

You hear what he's calling you Squonky.... by golly he's right! 

[tom2p 2,394]

 

I'm a fairly patient person - but I also left a doctor's office while waiting for the doctor to see me. I was in a waiting room for a very long time - and then left.

 

This was the second time it happened - and the last time as I moved to a different practice after that.  I had only been a patient with this doctor for a couple of years after my first doctor retired.

 

I was fortunate to have a great first family doctor for decades that actually delivered me.

 

After completing medical school, he served as a major in the US Army Medical Corps in Europe during WW II.  He was decorated with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.  
 

After serving his country, he started his general practice.  He was among the first fellows of the American Academy of Family Physicians.  He served as chief of staff at a local hospital and later opened a primary care facility at that hospital.

 

Outstanding person and doctor that provided great service to my family and the community.

 

To state there was a let down from doctor #1 to doctor #2 would be an understatement.

When I do go to my current practice - my wait is not long but I rarely see the doctor.  If I do see the doctor it is just brief.  Most times it is the physician assistant or nurse practitioner or whatever.

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by tom2p

[squonk 41,039]

18 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

 

 

You hear what he's calling you Squonky.... by golly he's right! 

Since, cents sense I worked at my local hospital for 14 years, I'm still on a first name basis with about 80% of the staff. And since,sense,cents I was "the man" who took care of everything, I still get top notch treatment. Even get treats from the breakroom. Even the OR crew treated me like a king last year when I had my knee operated on. The doctor's office folks can spot a Grumblestone a mile away! They have a tough job dealing with hundreds of people a day. I spent a day at a different hospital system doing pre op for my neck surgery last June. I saw more people walk into that office all miserable because they had an appointment in the middle of the day and how inconvenient it was for them. Well they left the office the same way they came in, with a burr in their saddle. I go thru my CT scan and the tech was flustered because the patient  before me gave her a hard  time. I told her don't worry about it I've seen it all before and we had a nice talk about the scan dye procedure and we even joked about it. 

 

Then I had to wait 3 hours before my next appointment there. Same thing more miserable people in the waiting room. Missing their soap opera's, their golf games ect. My appt was 45 min late. Doctors and staff have to process patients, LISTEN TO patients, put in drug orders ect. Some take longer than others  In all I spent 5 hours there. Left with a smile on my face.

Edited August 20, 2021 by squonk

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

I use the VA for all medical stuff , I have never waited more than 20 minutes for a Dr. and my appointments are scheduled for one hour.  No rushing me out the door, time for the " Hi how are you " general chic chat.  

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

  Worse is when you are wearing the paper gown and nothing else. I was in the room for an hour, which is typical, but remember this is a bad news and worse news scenario, and some of the patients receive devastating news.

  So i put my clothes back on and went to the reception desk and told them that i was not waiting in the paper suit any longer and they directed me to a little room that had some creature comforts and keep me quiet. We soon heard why the dr was late with all the sobbing going on in a little room next to ours. I felt pretty foolish then

  Fortunately, my news got better as time went on and they never say the word cured, but it has been ten years and counting

[WHX?? 48,799]

Gotta hand it to ya Squonky anyone works for or in a  hospital gotta have gumption. I did once and like quiting smoking it was the worst minute of my life!  

Doing HVAC for an addition to once and that was no fun. 

[rmaynard 15,428]

I know we have our anecdotes, but when you make an appointment 6 months in advance, confirm your appointment 24 hours in advance, and get there on time, you've held up your end of the deal. 

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

A whole bunch of people haven’t seen the Dr’s for 12 to 15 months due to Covid.  And one who visited or takes family members to Drs have seen this since Covid came to town.  I waited an hour to see an orthopedic Dr Wednesday.  I told him my shoulder felt no pain and I didn’t really need his care. 

Edited August 20, 2021 by Lane Ranger

[squonk 41,039]

" I would like to stay and talk to you about your condition ma'am, but I'm 10 minutes late to see the crotchety man in the next room!" 

[squonk 41,039]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

Gotta hand it to ya Squonky anyone works for or in a  hospital gotta have gumption.

 

Got some cool morgue cooler stories! 

[Gregor 4,846]

12 minutes ago, squonk said:

Got some cool morgue cooler stories! 

Ahh  No. I don't think you do.

[19richie66 17,500]

I had to go to the morgue twice last week. “Garbage” disposal locked up 🤢 

[Gregor 4,846]

[squonk 41,039]

8 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

I had to go to the morgue twice last week. “Garbage” disposal locked up 🤢 

BBBBBBBBBWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHAA!!! One of my first jobs! PM the disposal! 

 

( Walked into an autopsy once!) 

 

(Pathology room in the lab was interesting too!) 

Edited August 20, 2021 by squonk