Have A Seat. The Doctor Will Be With You In An Hour.

 I think I have a waiting room wait-time  problem. Below are a few of the symptoms.

1. I hope my file holder is overflowing because of huge files, but I know that's not the reason. 
2. I call patients without looking up so that I don't see the so-sad eyes of the yet-to-be-called..
3. The first thing patients do on arrival is ask how many other patients are ahead of them. 
4. Patients say "really? me?" when I call them in on time. 
5. Patients on oxygen bring extra tanks.
6. The parking meter guy sends me christmas presents. 
7. When I call a patient in, they look at their watch. Very subtle. 
8. I diagnose more sleep apnea than RA. 
9. My patients have started reading the magazines in the waiting room. 
10. They're reading the magazines because they have finished their books  

Luckily there may be some help. Ian Furst, a physician at Wait Time and Delayed Care provides an immense amount of information on all things related to wait times, from the micro level to the grand scheme of things.  The only problem with the site is the underlying suggestion that my waiting room grief is likely (all right, definitely)  self-inflicted. No more excuses.  I'm getting onto this problem... Soon. 

Comments

[Athena11]

The first step is admitting you have a problem... :) Those of us in the waiting room will wait more patiently knowing you've acknowledged the problem and are working on it!

[Ian Furst]

LMAO -- the list should be on David Letterman. Thanks for the plug.

[3+speckled]

Athena

More patient? Hard to believe it's possible.

[3+speckled]

Ian

Glad to send both of my readers your way. (That's assuming that my mother does clicks through to you.)

[Annette]

I saw my Dr at his worst the day that 2 of the three patients before me cried on his shoulder, his (soon to be fired) secretary came up with some urgent matters that took another 20-30 minutes, and it was his wife's birthday and he had promised to be there for it. A longer wait than usual.
He was a little frayed