Sunday's Doonesbury- Tired of Waiting

[n2doc]

[Gothmog]

1. Great cartoon

[knightmaar]

2. I thought it was only Socialized Medicine that made you wait?

That's what they keep telling us Canadians.

[Prophet 451]

15. I keep getting told that too

And yet, my NHS appointments are rarely more than 10-15 minutes late.

[Sander]

3. I was tempted to do this myself more than once

I understand that a physician may be called away on an emergency or may have had to spend much more time with a patient than expected.

However, I think it is thoughtless and rude to make patients wait hours, when a simple phone call would have alerted those with appointments that a delay has occurred and to offer to reschedule, if needed.

[PCIntern]

5. As a clinical practitioner...

I agree with you 100%. If I'm running more than five minutes behind, which does not happen often, I personally come out to address the folk in the waiting room and apologize and give them an estimate of how much longer I will be. I have never ever had someone walk out for this reason other than to put more money in the meter, and they return. We respect the time and schedules of our patients: IT IS GOOD BUSINESS TO DO SO.

Yes, I know that it is also moral and just, but I consider it BUSINESSLIKE to respect the customer. That is why we are still thriving, IMO, and many others have closed down or merged with others.

[LuvNewcastle]

10. You are an unusually sympathetic person.

You take into consideration the feelings and needs of others and act accordingly. I commend you for that. I understand that you consider it good business to do that, which is very true, but it's also common courtesy and it's respectful of other people. The world needs a hell of a lot more people like you.

[Voice for Peace]

14. +++ You'd think this would be common sense, and common practice in all businesses.

To have and keep satisfied customers.

Glad there is one of you out there, at least, with some smarts.

I have seen so many times, people will go out of their
way to visit a particular business because of how they
feel when they do. Valued, welcomed, trusted.
Treated with respect and honesty.

[RoccoR5955]

8. I know just what you mean

I have been tempted to do it myself.
Several times, I had to take time off from work, only to return later than I said that I would, and then use more time. So not only did that doctor's visit cost me my copay, it cost me extra time at the doctor's office.
I simply don't understand why they ALL don't call if they are running late with their appointments. You know 2 p.m. does not mean 2:30 p.m. in my book. Had I been a half hour late, they would have cancelled the appointment, and attempted to reschedule.

[Archae]

4. This strip is based on a real incident.

A businessman waited in his doctor's office for 2 hours past his appointment time, so he sued the doctor.

Some doctors do overbook, and as a result patients have to wait. And wait. And wait...

http://blog.lawinfo.com/2011/06/16/should-you-be-able-to-sue-your-doctor-for-making-you-wait-too-long/

[Fuddnik]

6. Tell me about it.

U usually try to book the first appointment of the day. My former Dr. opened at 8:30am, and I got an 8:45 appointment. When I arrived at 8:40, the waiting room was full. An hour later, I finally got led back to a room, and I told them that I had a restaurant to open in another 40 minutes, 20 miles away. I waited another 15 minutes, walked out and have never been back.

Other times, you would arrive, and drug salespeople would be running rampant behind the reception area, passing out coffee, donuts, and sandwiches to the staff.

Screw them.

[Orrex]

7. Preceded by Seinfeld by more than a decade

Art:life:art.

[TexasProgresive]

9. An independent trucker did this 25 years ago

He had been in a serious accident requiring surgery and had recovered enough to begin driving again. He had his rig across the street with a load while at the doctor's office for a follow up. He waited about 2 hours to see the doc and bill him accordingly. They did not pay him but gave him credit on future visits. The doc was never late again.

I don't remember what he billed the doc but it was sizable.

[Orrex]

11. I'd need to read that story to give an opinion on it. (nt)

[TexasProgresive]

12. You can either take my word for it

or not. I really don't care. This was not in the news, but I guarantee it happened. I know the trucker and he would be quite upset at being called a liar.

[Orrex]

13. Apparently you do care.

Why else would you immediately get so defensive?

I said I'd need to read the story before forming an opinion of it.