How long should I wait in a doctor's office?

Question

When I have a doctor's appointment I have to wait in the big public waiting room for between 1.5 to 3.5 hours to get in for my appointment (an appointment that lasts maybe 5-10 minutes if I'm lucky). Once I get put in the private little exam room I have to wait 20 minutes to 1 hour for the doctor to see me. The receptionists & doctor never say they're behind schedule when I ask & never apologize. I've changed doctor's four times in the last five years & they're all the same.
One friend said I should wait in the big waiting room no longer than 1/2 the time my time with the doctor will last but that'd only be 2.5-5 min. Another friend said good manners means I should wait 20 minutes & no longer.
I'm tired of having to lose half a day's pay (no weekend appointments available & walk-in clinics make me wait up to 5 hours) just to get a presciption or something.
How long should I wait? If a hairdresser or bank made you wait 3 hours, you'd leave, right?

Answer 1

Did you read about the guy who sued his doctor because his time was as valuable as the doctor's? This was about 10 years ago. He won! I don't remember how much. I only waited 3 hours for one doctor, who was helping me with drug therapy for pain. Otherwise, I'd switch doctors if he/she was always hours late. I can see 20 minutes late, but that's long enough. Great question. :)

Answer 2

Wow, that is truly amazing! Perhaps you live in a very small town? I live in a city and while my doctor is very popular I have never waited more than 90 minutes to see her, and that was one day when I was a 'walk in'.

My last doc, who retired was almost always running late, so I asked the receptionist to give me a call when there was only three patients ahead of me, then I would go to the surgery and wait.

They were glad to do it, as it meant the waiting room was less crowded. I don't know if this would be possible for you to arrange ~ you could consult the receptionist. Another thing the doc can sometimes do is have the script ready to pick up (if it's a regular medication). That way, you don't always have to wait ~ but you have to be sure to go every couple of months for a check up.

Another thing you can do is try and get one of the first couple of appointments in the day, that way there is not such a big build up of people. If that means getting there at 7.30 am, can you do that? If the surgery is just a walk in type arrangement, find out when they open and get there ten minutes before, that way you will be among the first in, which should shorten the wait.

Usually the receptionist in the doc's office has a lot on their plate, so don't get grumpy with them, but if you explain that you like that doc and want to come regularly, the receptionist might find a way to make things more manageable.

The problem is, if the doc is good everyone wants to see them! If they aren't great, do you want to not wait but get a bad doc? That's the problem everyone faces. You could also talk to the doc about it, mentioning you'd like them to become your permanent doc but the waiting time is killing you.

Best of luck! :-)

Answer 3

All Doctors have schedules, and plan to spend 15 min. per patient, but when there are extra issues with that patient, the time spent naturally increases. Then everybody has a question in between patients, and dont forget the hospitals and patients that are also phoning in. This is why everything gets messed up. If U have to be out of his office by a certain time, U should let the receptionist know, and keep reminding her, U wont have to wait. I have been working with an MD for 20 years. Just remember the doctor is not playing Golf or socializing and gossipping, its all patient related stuff going on. Actually the busier the office , the more popular the MD

Answer 4

Wow. 2 to 4 hours? That's crazy. I go to a smaller clinic, and the longest I've had to wait there is 20 minutes. But those walk in clinics are horrible. I've had to wait for 2 hours just to get a prescription for some good cough syrup when I'm sick and miserable with no voice from coughing so hard, and I'd rather be at home.

Answer 5

If your doctor if a surgeon, the wait can be even longer (e.g. if the surgery ends up taking longer than planned). If you are getting good treatment from the doctor, then just plan your schedule with the anticipation that you are going to have to wait. If your workplace has sick leave, then use a sick day to see your doctor. I used to work for a doctor and ppl would either complain that they had to wait too long (or on light days, they would ask why there were so few patients in the waiting room)-- everybody was a critic.

Answer 6

That's not right, I would say that there must be a doctor shortage in your area if you are waiting that long. I would keep switching doctors until you found one that you don't have to wait on so long. It also may have to do with your medical insurance, if you are on medicaid or other welfare insurance than that could be the problem, if so find a job that you can get a good health plan. I don't see how you could wait that long if the doctor is only spending 5 minutes with you because that means he is spending the same amount with other patients as well which means there should be no 3 hour wait.

Answer 7

I am so sorry you are having this problem! There are some things you can do. For example the earlier in the day your appointment is, the less likely the doctor will have been delayed by a previous patient. It really seems like your doctors are overloaded and you might not want to stop trying to take your business elsewhere. In the meantime if you are nice to the office staff sometimes they can slip you in between appointments if things suddenly open up. I hope things work out for you.

Answer 8

I tend to agree with your friend about twenty minutes. Doctor's offices are tricky because if a previous patient is late or runs over that affects every other appointment. I would wait no longer than thirty minutes in the waiting room and twenty minutes in the examination room. Are you in a town with few doctors? I've never encountered such a problem.

Answer 9

I do think that the amount time that you are waiting seems excessive. Lots of places have the 15 min. rule (and at least TRY) to stick with it. If I had to wait to be seen like that, I would probably feel that they did not value my time as a Patient and would take my business elsewhere or start complaining to the appropriate people.

Answer 10

that is really bad. my old doctor used to be good and take heaps of time with everyone. i liked it when he was with me but i got sick of waiting 30-50 min to see him so i switched to the walk in clinic where sometimes there is hour wait but sometimes you get seen straight away. maybe its different in your country. i tell you what though if i was waiting that long i would sit in front of that doctor for as long as i could. i guess it all comes down to how long you are prepared to wait and how much you need to see the doc. you should shop around at a different doc every time you go.