Have you been to doc’s office lately? More importantly, when you made an appointment, did Doc ever show up on time? Don’t get me wrong. I respect the profession to infinity. Lot of my friends are in that field and i have complete respect for their dedication, hard work and will power. Amount of training they go through is unparallel to any other profession. However, my complain is not against Doctors but rather towards the way process works.
Ideally, you make an appointment to see a doc. You show up on time and doc would see you, save your life/make you feel better and you go on your merry way. However, the time a patient shows up at doc’s office and the time a doctor actually sees the patient, that is where something needs to be changed. This is the way i have experienced it. A nurse or physician assistant takes the patient in the office and measures BP, temperature, asks what the symptoms are and prepares basics for the doc. Nurse/PA asks the patient to wait and leaves the room. Now, this waiting in the examination room and anticipation of doc walking in at any second is the root of patient dissatisfaction. Patient is told “Doctor will see you shortly.” A normal human being defines “Shortly” as in 5-10 minutes and not 20-25 minutes. This is the time when patient usually feels like his/her time is not being valued.
Take this as a scenario. You are starving and you go to a restaurant, waiter takes your order and you are waiting for food to come at any time. Each minute seems like an hour when you are just sitting there. But when a waiter gives you chips and salsa, that’s when your mind is occupied. Similar appetizer should also be offered at doc’s office. Something to distract that really hungry patient. May it can be some kind of educational video, latest health news, information about the doctor or anything that will make each minute not look like 30 minutes long.
I have yet to meet an unqualified doctor. To reiterate, my issue is not with doctors. Frustration is with the process and the time patient spends in the examination rooms.
How has your experience been like at doctor’s office? Got better ideas around distracting hungry patient?
Learn, Have Perspective and Grow 