The best way to fix this is to cancel the appointment if they make you wait. If enough people did this the clinic loses money which should cause change. Unfortunately, patients are largely a captive clientele, having already waited months and canceled work and with few if any alternative providers.
The next best thing is much more realistic. Plaster the internet with reviews complaining of the wait. If your doctor (or more likely your doctor’s employer) does not respect your time, let everyone know.
Many of the other comments are also correct. I have worked in clinics in government, military, academic centers, venture capital, physician owned, and even free community health centers, all in the USA. Doctors running late is going to happen. I’ve kept patients waiting while in the operating room, while telling someone they have cancer or are losing a limb, and by my burnt out underpaid government scheduler incompetently overbooking. I will also tell you that when I have at least a little control over my own schedule, I’ve never made a patient wait an hour, even with the above happening. It can be done, it just isn’t because for decades timeliness has not been a financial incentive.
Make it one. Name and shame on google, yelp, zoc doc, wherever. Do it gracefully and sensitively, recognizing that there is a high chance the delay is not the doctor or nurse’s fault. Done right, you’ll do them a favor when their employer feels the sting of lost patients.
I haven’t been to many offices without fees for cancelling less than 24 hours in advance. They’re absolutely not going to let you cancel while sitting in the office. At least not in the US.
I joined a private medical group that has annual fees, purely to avoid this shit. They don’t overbook. I’ve never had to wait, unless I got there early (and even then sometimes they were happy to see me early).
The best way to fix this is to cancel the appointment if they make you wait. If enough people did this the clinic loses money which should cause change. Unfortunately, patients are largely a captive clientele, having already waited months and canceled work and with few if any alternative providers.
The next best thing is much more realistic. Plaster the internet with reviews complaining of the wait. If your doctor (or more likely your doctor’s employer) does not respect your time, let everyone know.
Many of the other comments are also correct. I have worked in clinics in government, military, academic centers, venture capital, physician owned, and even free community health centers, all in the USA. Doctors running late is going to happen. I’ve kept patients waiting while in the operating room, while telling someone they have cancer or are losing a limb, and by my burnt out underpaid government scheduler incompetently overbooking. I will also tell you that when I have at least a little control over my own schedule, I’ve never made a patient wait an hour, even with the above happening. It can be done, it just isn’t because for decades timeliness has not been a financial incentive.
Make it one. Name and shame on google, yelp, zoc doc, wherever. Do it gracefully and sensitively, recognizing that there is a high chance the delay is not the doctor or nurse’s fault. Done right, you’ll do them a favor when their employer feels the sting of lost patients.
You need a doctor, not otherwise.
Man, I resonate with the meme here in the UK where it’s free to go to the doctors but HAVING TO PAY FOR IT AT THE SAME TIME?!
Except then they send you a bill for services not rendered and act like that’s legitimate.
I haven’t been to many offices without fees for cancelling less than 24 hours in advance. They’re absolutely not going to let you cancel while sitting in the office. At least not in the US.
If they do not have your SSN - and why would they? Leave that shit blank on the forms.
They can’t do much other than refuse to let you book again.
Yeah…which is hard when they’re the only doctor who treats your condition in the area
Yikes - I have not had that problem. I am rural but not that rural.
I’m sorry you have to deal with that.
Thanks, I appreciate it
I joined a private medical group that has annual fees, purely to avoid this shit. They don’t overbook. I’ve never had to wait, unless I got there early (and even then sometimes they were happy to see me early).