Have noticed a curious thing about time. When I am seeing a patient, they never check their watch to see if they are over their alloted time. Our appointment slots are 15' apart but it takes 10' to check in (longer if you didn't fill out the 5 page history we need to do a good job for you), it takes 20' at least to do pulmonary function tests (longer if you can barely climb in & out of the booth or totter down the hall to the testing), and 10-40 minutes of interview time with my nurse taking history details before I even come in the room. Then I take 10-40 minutes per patient. Whatever is needed. Not 15 minutes. The whole thing can easily run 2 hours, especially for new patients. Many people are annoyed that they are "waiting" for me even when they have been busy the entire time, yet they don't exactly get up and rush out so the next person doesn't have to wait. I have to apologize for spending time with my patients. Constantly. Wish I could book one per hour but since so many cancel or fail to show up, we'd be out of business if I did that-and nobody would be seen. Yesterday a lady booked an appt. New patient who wanted a consultation, and left minutes after arriving because she'd booked another appt. 60 minutes after ours and couldn't "wait". This is not fast food.
Maybe we should book desk appts and pulmonary function appts. separately. Then doctor.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
