Dr. Visits... Questions for everyone

[MCKMN]

I really hope this is not a debateable topic..Cause I certainly am not trying too start one, but this is really buggin me.. I just changed OB's.. I am 28wk1d pg. I LOVE, love, love my new OB. The thing is the WAIT not only before my visit, but also while waiting in the *ROOM*..
If Ihave a visit for say..3:15..

Do you think a 45 minute wait too be seen is un-reasonable?
I certainly think it is. I feel my time is as precious as my Docotrs, but I wait at a minimum 45 minutes to be seen, to only be put in a room for another 15-20 before I am seen.

If they cannot get you in at 3:15, or say 3:35 ( 20 minute wait ) why do they schedule you for that time?
I am a SAHM/ Homeschooling mom ( i have a pre-teen, pre-schooler, and a toddler.. , so I try too get LATE visits, since I KNOW I will not be seen at my given appointment time.

are there any nurses here who can explain this too me PLEASE... I feel like they over book patients..

The other day I had an appointment.. I waited ONE solid Hr before asking how much longer I would have too wait. Then I explained the impotance of my time, and coud I re-schedule . The nurse was very irritated, and lectured me on the importance of my pre-natal visits.. I GET how important they are, but I just DO NOT GET why it takes for ever too be seen. I guess I am wondering if there is a reason for the lengthy wait too be seen. I can see 20-30 minute wait, but too wait a whole hr, then maybe 15-20minutes longer after in the room.. this is rediculous too me. I gues I am just venting, and wondering if anyone else has this issue, and gets irritated by it.

Missy

[Lizzardqueen]

I understand your frustration. All my OB visits have been during my work day, so I have to reschedule my own patients to make it to the OB. I believe I have had 7 visits now....the first 5 visits I walked into the office and immediately been told to give my urine sample and then brought right into a room where there was no more than a 5 minute wait for the doc. My 6th visit, I was told to give my sample, then had to drink the juice for the GTT, so waited in the waiting room for 40 minutes, then brought into the exam room where I waitied an additional 20 minutes for the doc. Last weeks appointment was like the first 5...but I was still upset about the one I had to wait so long at. In the case of my doc's office, I figure one time is excusable but there is no reason that they should keep you waiting like that EVERY time. Would it be possible to take the very first appointment in the AM or the first appointment after their lunch hour....that way there couldn't possibly be anyone ahead of you?

Hope things get better.....

Rebecca

[Lizzardqueen]

Just another quick note......after reading several of your other posts, I see that you have pressure issues.....could they be related to how they make you wait so long for your appointments?

Next time tell them, "Maybe my pressure wouldn't be so high if you saw me at the time of my appointment...or scheduled my appointment at the time you were able to see me." I am sure that the nurse would love to hear that!

[SamInVero]

A good way to alleviate your wait time is to schedule for the first AM appt. I work and do the first appt. whenever I go...that way they don't get backlogged with patients. I usually get out of there pretty quickly.

[kmsnj]

I am a nurse and have worked in a few pedi doctors offices. Wait time is dependent on a lot of things. Most doctors do have overbooked schedules, but those overbooks usually are not for routine checks but for patients that are sick/having an urgent problem that day. Those overbooks usually wait longer than the scheduled patients, but it still backs up the schedule so everyone waits. With OBs, they also are in constant contact with residents at the hospital and may have to leave to deliver a baby at any given time. Sometimes that is why the waits can be so long at an OB office. Wait times may vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. I would recommend trying to get an appointment either early in the morning or right after the office's lunch break. Also, avoid Mondays and Fridays since they always tend to be the busiest days. Your wait time does sound a little long so I would address it with your OB at the next appointment to find out if these are normal wait times for his/her practice. The nurses get most of the patient's anger/complaints about wait times so they may not seem too sympathetic--usually the patient takes it out on the nurse and then the patient is all smiles like nothing happened when the doctor comes in the room. Doctors that run behind stress out the nurses too! We can only go as fast as they see patients.

[little_roo]

To cut my waiting time I make early morning appointments because I have found the later in the day my appointment is the longer it takes to get in. My OB has been late for reasons like Emergency C-Section and delivering a patients of his during office hours (his office is at he hospital). I know the wait can be long but I deal with it because it could be me making the other patients waits and I would rather have my OB delivery me then another and most women feel that way.

[iluvthebud]

On two occassions I had to wait at least an hour. One he was at the hospital (which is next door) delivering twins and the other was an emergency with another paitent. It does annoy me, but I try to not let it get me too riled up. I had a m/c with my first pg and I went in on an emergency basis and I'm sure I made someone else's appt late. Plus during that time it was really important to me that the dr spent adequate time with me discussing options, etc. Not just scoot away to his next appt. And when I deliver, I would like him to deliver me (which might make someone else's appt late). So I just try to roll with the punches and accept that someone else may need him more than I do at the moment.

But... if you OB is consistently very late that is another story- probably overbooking. I suppose it just depends on which is more important- your time, or seeing that particular OB. It is frustrating- especially when you have appts every one or two weeks!

[Adriana]

I too have had my share of waiting in the ob's office. I try to be understanding because the nature of the ob's work is to a lot of times get called out on an emergency delivery, so they easily get back logged. Where I go currently, there are obs scheduled just to do appts and obs just to take care of deliveries, but most of the time I still have to wait a bit. Like others suggested the best time for an appt is the first thing in am and first thing after the office lunch break, otherwise you just have to be lucky not to have a wait.

[Ferret Mommy]

Lizzard.. did you have to wait the full hour for the glucose test? Is that the only time you had to wait so long? I had mine done at a lab, not at the OB... and you have to stay seated and still durring the test.. ?? My guess on that one...

For me, I am usually seen asap.. sometimes when I get there early, I am done before my actual appt time. I have only had one time where it took forever.. It didnt make since to me.. the dr was on call.. but yet the only dr at the office ( they have like 4 of them...) They are to rotate between office and the hospital and then their days off. I was miffed when they knew this an hour before I had my appt... they wanted me to see the RN.. but she sucks and never answers your questions. So, I said NO... and wow... within about an hour total.. guess who showed up? To me it was worth that wait.. since I do not drive unless its an emergency right now and hubby had taken off work that day to take me.

I may not get any u/s but the wait time is usually nada. Also, they are quick to turn around on my disability paper work... so I shouldnt complain too much. My appt times are usually at 10 am...and they start there at 8:30am