Image of Salvador Dali melting clock on right.
Of course all my visits are scheduled first thing in the morning or first thing after lunch.
THERE SEEM TO BE TWO PCP types: One who slavishly follows the clock — in most cases that means a maximum of 15 minutes per patient.
The other ignores the clock and takes whatever time is needed for the patient.
As a patient, I try to be on my way out the door within 15 minutes of the PCP’s entry. I don’t count “prep time”; the weigh-in, blood pressure check, and 20 questions from the sweet young things that populate doctors’ offices.
I show up with a list of “concerns” for my PCP and we usually can check them off fairly quickly.
I have had some PCPs who, no matter how hard I tried to get them on their way to their next patient, insisted on chatting. I admit that in one case such a “chat” may have saved my life.
I don’t particularly mind if a doctor is a few minutes late — a quarter hour normally is acceptable — but if the practitioner is running 30 or more minutes behind schedule and has patients in front of me, someone needs to inform me before MY patience runs out.
Let me reschedule.
Once, years ago, I had an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
I sat in the doctor’s waiting room for more than an hour.
Finally I asked the woman behind the glass “Where’s the doctor?”
“Oh,” she replied, “he had emergency surgery.”
I was losing pay as I sat in his waiting room — as were others — and no one thought to tell us that the doctor was occupied elsewhere for an undetermined time!
This morning my wife had an appointment with a specialist. The person is a great doctor, highly recommended and well respected by peers and patients.
But he frequently is late arriving.
My wife’s appointment was at 8 a.m. She arrived at the office at 7:50 a.m. It takes about 15 minutes for sign-in and prep time.
The doctor arrived about 8:45.
My wife, much younger than I am, is employed and her employer counts every minute she is absent. In any event, she normally enjoys her work. Making her more than an hour late does not make for a happy camper.
I cannot comprehend why some professionals — doctors, lawyers, and petty bureaucrats — seem to think it is OK to treat their clients like Jacob Rodney Cohen.
People with appointments to see these people need to be shown simple courtesies.
If they cannot be on time, alert the person waiting to be seen.
If the delay will be more than, say, 30 minutes, offer, and be agreeable, to reschedule the appointment.
Arrogance is not an attractive trait and, to the best of my limited knowledge, it is not a university course.
I will not be like Jacob Rodney Cohen. He may not have gotten get any respect, but I will demand it or find another vendor
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