Doctor’s appointment scheduled at 9:00am, still waiting almost an hour later

[u/transfatpikachu]

I have a lot of doctor’s appointments, and I know how busy and hard these people work. I’m not mad at them and I’d never be rude. I know it’s not on purpose. Nevertheless, it’s still a bit infuriating to make time for a scheduled appointment, arrive 15 minutes early (required), and then wait this long with not even an acknowledgment of the delay from anyone. Sigh. 9:55 now, still waiting.

Edit: I really appreciate all the comments! The doctor ended up coming in shortly after 10. This was a specialist ortho appointment for my shoulder. Still no acknowledgement of the delay, which would’ve been nice, but I’m more annoyed that my concerns were pretty much brushed off again during the whole 3ish minutes he spent with me. I know waits can get long, I wouldn’t care as much if the doctor had at least seemed somewhat concerned with my issue. Sigh… gotta love American healthcare!

[u/transfatpikachu]

My favorite doctor is often a bit late, but she’s the most caring doctor I’ve ever had. So smart and always advocating for her patients, she’s helped me more than anyone else. You sound like a great doctor too if you’re mortified over only 5 minutes! I don’t mind waiting when I know I’m seeing a doctor who genuinely cares

[u/Standard-Top-5942 → u/transfatpikachu]

this is social media. your post is causing tens of thousands of people to think that doctors are lazy. if that's not your intention you have the power to fix it. primary care doctors should be suppored like teachers. it's the insurance company and generally high costs for for profit medical devices providers that's the issue

[u/transfatpikachu → u/Standard-Top-5942]

I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I don’t think they’re lazy; I said they’re busy and work hard, and that I didn’t get mad at them. That doesn’t make wait times any less frustrating, especially when the doctor doesn’t seem to care about not only the wait but the reason why I’m here

[u/Any-Organization-985 → u/Standard-Top-5942]

I mean, if my kid's teacher was an hour late to class, people would also complain about that. It's a matter of professionalism and respecting other people's time. Also, doctors make significantly more than a teacher, many of whom struggle to get by, so this was a weird comparison. How many protests happen to raise doctors pay because they are struggling...

[u/bog_witch → u/Any-Organization-985]

You can't compare the two jobs in terms of being able to keep a predetermined schedule. Many doctors, particularly specialists, are rounding before the clinic even opens. Then they have to accommodate people who show up late within usually a 15 min grace period. And turns out the person before you is a diabetic whose blood pressure is out of control and is mid-hypertensive crisis. Another patient has just disclosed that they feel suicidal and need immediate help. Someone else has to be told that their test result could indicate a terminal illness. Someone has come in with chest pain instead of going to the ED. Another person is upset and yelling because insurance won't cover their medication. The list goes on and on.

And lots of protests happen about doctors' pay, are you kidding? We're facing a primary care doctor shortage because they get paid nothing in comparison to the amount of student loan debt they have and everyone goes into specialist roles instead.

[u/transfatpikachu → u/bog_witch]

I could’ve worded my title better. I’m not here to bash on healthcare workers and I understand that long waits can happen, I’m used to it. This particular appointment was frustrating partly due to no acknowledgment of the wait + this doctor routinely brushes my concerns off for the entire 3ish minutes he spends with me while he stands in the doorway, like he’s just waiting to leave. Just adds insult to injury

[u/Standard-Top-5942 → u/transfatpikachu]

whether you're willing to acknowledge it or not, you posts is making thousands of people think that doctors are lazy. that's how social media works. shame on you. a lot of these people have ptsd from covid and just regular anxiety from missing .05% of diagnosis that can result in serious medial issues. do you think the doctor is just sitting in an office not doing aynthing lol?

[u/transfatpikachu → u/Standard-Top-5942]

Lol you’re just making things up to get mad about my post for. There’s no way to know that my post is “making thousands of people think doctors are lazy.” I’ve explicitly said the opposite. It’s a reality that wait times are long, many of the comments have shared similar stories. I’ve said that doctors work hard, including this particular doctor even though he shows almost no concern for me. This post not only about the wait but the doctors/staffs actions surrounding it

[u/Standard-Top-5942 → u/transfatpikachu]

You're obviously complaining about the doctor. If you don't see that then you're being irrational. Your doctor might suck. Probably 100k people have just viewed the thumbnail and title, and most of them obviously just think that docs are lazy or that they don't care based on your post. Next go post about the fact that your kid's elementary school teacher is burnt out and that you're mad at them for that.

Still no acknowledgement of the delay, which would’ve been nice, but I’m more annoyed that my concerns were pretty much brushed off again during the whole 3ish minutes he spent with me. I know waits can get long, I wouldn’t care as much if the doctor had at least seemed somewhat concerned with my issue. Sigh… gotta love American healthcare!

[u/transfatpikachu → u/Standard-Top-5942]

Wow, I didn’t know I was this powerful. A single post convinced 100k people that doctors are lazy. That’s kinda sad, they should think for themselves. Especially when I’ve never said they’re lazy and have explicitly said the opposite in the post and my comments.

[u/Any-Organization-985 → u/transfatpikachu]

This person is clearly one if the irresponsible unprofessional doctors. Your complaint probably reminded them of their own terribly ran practice.

[u/transfatpikachu → u/Standard-Top-5942]

It’s also funny that you think 100k people have seen this, when I can view my own post 100 times and that’ll count as 100 views. And that these 100k hypothetical people have all come to the same random conclusion solely due to my post that’s about long wait times and never once calls doctors lazy. You’re a bad troll, goodbye

[u/Any-Organization-985 → u/bog_witch]

Buddy, primary care doctors average pay is about 250,000 compared to about 250,000 in student debt. Yeah it'll take  several years to pay off, but once you do you are making 250,000 a year. If you think that isn't very much money, go talk to a teacher. 100% we need more doctors, that doesn't mean doctors aren't making good money. They are making less money than they used to when adjusted for inflation, but so is everyone else.

Yes, I understand there's a difference in scheduling between the two, but really all OP was complaining about was that the doctor couldn't take a few seconds to apologize about it. That's just common courtesy. They aren't making thousands of people think doctors are bad, they are voicing their opinion about one specialist. You trying to guilt them for that is kind of ridiculous. 

[u/Lingo2009 → u/transfatpikachu]

I was living in China and I had a friend who needed urgent medical care so she went to Thailand. They had to wait about 30 minutes in the waiting room so the doctor gave them a free Starbucks cards.

[u/Zigor022 → u/transfatpikachu]

The only problem i have with having to wait is if you are late you get financially penalized, but the doctor can be an hour late nbd.

[u/Professional-Gear88 → u/transfatpikachu]

That’s probably why she’s late

[u/transfatpikachu → u/Professional-Gear88]

Right, and that’s why it’s not frustrating. My doctor today is late but has never spent much time listening to me at all