My Oncologist...

BusterBrown
BusterBrown Member Posts: 221 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My Oncologist it always late...Today, I had a 4:30pm appointment, I left his office w/out seeing him at 5:45pm. This is the third time this has happened in 12 visits. How rude and unprofessional. Why didn't anyone on his staff say that he's running 2hrs late? Here's a novel idea, give me the choice of either waiting or rescheduling...I like this guy, but he's absolutely clueless when it comes to people lives.Why would it matter to him that I have my own business, employees and important customers to attend to??? I'm too busy to be sick...
Thanks for listening...
BTW, I start radiation therapy next week, looks like 5 days a week, for 5 weeks...Trying to root out any remaining rogue cancer cells that may be lurking about...
Buster

Comments

  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #2
    I would start calling the office...that is what I do. My office normally runs late....or maybe it is my doc.
    If it is still frustrating, ask them - the office staff - to call you.
    Hope it works out and best of luck with the start of radiation.
    All the best,
    Maura
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #3
    Hey Buster,

    I agree with Maura, call ahead since you know your doctor's MO and see if he is running late. But let them know that it is tiresome to wait 2 hours for an appointment! However, on the other hand, you like your doctor and apparently so do many others and he is a busy guy.

    Good luck with the radiation........kill all those cancer cells!!

    Kerry
  • hillby
    hillby Member Posts: 31
    #4
    Hi Buster,

    My doc's receptionist's are pretty good about letting us know (IF WE ASK) when he is running late. They can be your greatest advocate if you get them on your side!!! My wife brings them cookies every once in awhile!

    Byron
  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #5
    hillby said:

    Hi Buster,

    My doc's receptionist's are pretty good about letting us know (IF WE ASK) when he is running late. They can be your greatest advocate if you get them on your side!!! My wife brings them cookies every once in awhile!

    Byron

    I've gone to Starbucks when the receptionist was looking a bit harried.....a latte goes a long way!!
  • bsrules
    bsrules Member Posts: 296
    #6
    Buster,

    You have to do what my husband Bob did --- We went down for the treatment and after waiting they said that he had to come back as they didn't have all the drugs that he needed for his treatment then they charged us for that day. Bob was furious!!!!! He started screaming - literially!!! I thought that the roof was going to come off the place. Bob would only take so much then look out. Needless to say it NEVER happened again!!!! After that when we went down for his treatments everyone knew who he was!!!! They were all smiles!!! The nurses loved him as he didn't take any **** from anyone!!! I think that is why he stayed with us longer then they exspected!!!!!

    Good Luck with the radiation treatments.

    Have a wonderful 4th!!!!!

    Love

    Sue
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #7
    there is absolutely no excuse for keeping a patient waiting more than 30-45 minutes..unless there is an unanticipated emergency. When I have to wait more than 45 minutes, I send the Dr a bill for my time..I've never been paid, but it gets the message across..
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #8
    OK, I have to say something, as a doctor. My patients wait to see me sometimes - because in a doctor's office, or hospital, emergencies happen ALL THE TIME. When a patient has a breakdown and needs extra time, I give it; which means I am late for my other patients because we get scheduled 1-4 per time slot at times.

    When I go to my doctor appts I anticipate waiting. I will often ask the people up front if it will be more than an hour, and if it is; I will go to the coffee shop and leave my cell phone number.

    It IS NOT a perfect situation. It should change. But please try to understand. The doctors are NOT lolly gagging; they are caring for people. Sick people often need more than the 15 minutes scheduled for them. All people matter - try to understand.

    I am sorry for your frustration. Thanks for listening to me. jana
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #9
    I agree with Jana. It is all about financials and the way insurance companies have whittled away profits for our local medical offices, it is not surprising we all have to wait. The offices are being pushed into being a drive thru version of a business while it's patients want and deserve luxury care.

    Now that being said, you all are probably wondering why the cost of health care in the US is skyrocketing. Look at the financials of it all and the only ones making decent and sometimes ludicrous money are the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Sucks doesn't it, but you know what, it is all about greed.

    Now until we speak out and fix that mess, ask when you first check in how long it may be and if it's an hour or more, get out of the building and do something other then sitting and waiting. Get back and check in (in person of phone) 15 minutes before the "deadline". While I was on chemo, I learned the steps they go thru. Access the port, hook up the IV tube, and then hook me up to a saline drip before my bloodwork results came back. Sometimes that took an hour or more. The saline drip is nothing of importance, so I would have them cap the access before they hooked my up to the saline drip and then go get good food and come back when they guessed the results would be back.

    As far as my oncologist appts go, I get them as early in the day as I can, so I don't have to wait as long. I take pad, paper and reading material in anticipation of prolonged sitting, but given our sometimes sitting uneasiness, I ask and go for a walk around the building, weather permitting.

    Lisa P.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #10
    I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but I routinely have to wait over an hour to see my oncologist -- it is a very, very busy place. I bring reading material/work -- and try to psychologically prepare myself for the long wait in advance. For me, the important thing is that, when I do finally see my dr., he gives me all the time, respect and concern that I need.
    Tara
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #11
    Howdy, Buster -

    Everyone has some good suggestions and perspective. I am a very busy person, too, and I have a tight schedule most days and cannot affort to wait. I try to schedule my appointments first thing in the morning - that way the schedule hasn't really had time to back up yet. It works pretty well and significantly reduces my frustration and the impact on my myriad daily activities.

    Just a thought.

    Be well...

    SpongeBob

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