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This is the product of clinics being owned by corporations chasing a specific return, and not being owned by a local group of physicians who actually want to care for people.

Shop local applies.

As far as I can tell, my psych is doing well enough to not worry about his living, not particularly keen on getting rich, deals with some super heavy things and curses at the stupid computer system he's required to use, so he's probably chronically low on fucks to give for seeing the maximum amount of patients per day.

But yeah, when you see him walk out of one room with a heavier-than-usual frown on his face, taking a deep breath to compose himself before walking into the next one, you start to wonder how many times he's had to put on a stoic face before seeing you. And then he sits down, asks how you're doing, whether you've done that thing you mentioned wanting to do last time and gives you full attention.

I have nothing but respect for that man. I've moved a good bit away from him now, but I'd still rather take the long trip to see him for my regular appointments than search for a new one.

You got downvotes for it but nah, it's on the Dr if this is a regular occurrence. Once or twice or going over a min or two is fine, but regularly being 45 minutes late (hello my last Dr) is a sign you've lied to everyone scheduling an appointment about how long they are and when to even be there for one

It's hard to predict just how long an appointment will take. Some have been done in five minutes, just a brief check-in and new prescription, and scheduling half an hour for that would mean twiddling his thumbs for twenty minutes he could have spent helping someone that arrived rather punctual for their appointment. I think scheduling for the average appointment but allowing overtime for those who need it is the more patient-friendly approach.

Exactly, but if you the patient are late or a no show, then here's a $50 fee for you.

Holy shit that's bad!

You gonna pay me for those 15 minutes?

In what world should anyone be criticized for not being early enough? I agree if you’re not early, you’re late.

But for fucks sake, five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, whatever… dude sounds like an asshole.

Yeah. My wife was an eye doctor in private practice, and she was positively militant about never getting behind schedule.

She very rarely ran behind. It would require a cascade of emergencies.

I don’t think people mean it’s the doctors fault or that they’re sitting around doing Jack. The frustration is that doctors time is so packed full that they don’t have time for all those things, which is an administration problem.

Clinic/hospital admins want to pack the doctors schedule full of 15min increment appointments, where they’re expected to see the patient, diagnose/treat, and complete notes/charts within an incredibly short amount of time.

Worst part is that most of the time this is not done because the clinic is having trouble making money, but because they want MORE profit from every person walking into their doors.

A doctor tha expects those things to happen should schedule based on that knowledge.

If the admin has unrealistic expectations, then those expectations need to be addressed.

Then book fewer patients per day (assuming it's your own practice). It's one thing to have a bad day where you fall behind. It's another thing when you fall an hour behind every day.

they’re a business too

Without meaning to go completely off the rails, maybe this is part of the problem? I mean we can't sink our entire GDP into toenail fungus, but there ought to be some middle ground somewhere.