Me: 30 minutes past my appointment (after arriving 20 minutes early) watching people walk in then get called back within 3 minutes. Fuck doctors offices so much.
Update: Nurse took me to the room. Answered prelim questions then she left. Still waiting for the doctor 20 minutes later. It is now 40 minutes past my appointment time and no sign of the person taking my money.
First, YSK that doctors’ offices overbook patients. Most of the time, the doctor takes less time with you than he schedules. He’s got a lot of people to help (and money to make). But if he’s not helping you, he’s not your doctor and it’s time to find another one. If he checks you out, gives you a prescription, and sends you on your merry way and it works, don’t feel dismissed, he did his job efficiently.
People who break appointments cost the office money, so I get where they’re coming from. It’s still bullshit. If there were more doctors, the load would be spread more evenly and they wouldn’t do that, but there aren’t (in many areas) so that’s what you get. Not that it’s fair.
One time, my wife waited 4 hours to be seen by her doctor. I waited for an hour with her, then I started feeling unwell, so I walked home (only about a 20 minute walk, and the breeze felt awesome). She was there from 9 until noon, when they went to lunch. They all went out to eat at a nice restaurant while my wife waited. When they got back an hour later, they saw her. I thought that was messed up. But my wife likes her doctor and stayed with the practice. Couldn’t be me. I give it half an hour tops.
As for me, I usually arrive at appointments five minutes early to on time. Usually have to wait no more than 15 minutes. AirPods are great for this. “But what if they call your name?” iPhone has a feature where it will listen for your name. You don’t even have to look at them. The music dips, you hear a ding, you look at the phone, and it says “Urgent message: Maybe heard (your name).” You have to tell it your first name, your last name, and anything else you want it to listen for. This also eats battery because it’s listening constantly — this is something you would not leave on all the time. But, I figure everyone’s got a charger in the car, so it’s no big deal. As for Android users… there might be an app for it. I dunno. Android absolutely wins when it comes to customisation of the home screen, but iPhone wins on accessibility features. There are, like, hundreds in there. One I use (and it came in clutch after having some oral surgery) is personal voice, where you can make it talk for you in your voice. It’s a parlour trick until you need it, then it’s indispensable.