A man got so fed up waiting three hours to see his doctor that he left and headed for his lawyer.
"My time is worth something just like his is," he said
"My time is worth something just like his is," he said
Man Sues Doctor Over Three-Hour Wait
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Steve
Enjoying life!
I absolutely love this story. It's about time that doctors start sticking to the schedules they post. We made my daughters ear appointment two weeks ago on time and still waited over an hour to get in. And we were not alone. One guy actually started getting mad because he had been there an hour already, too. I can see making you wait if you are late, or if you are a "walk-in", but when they tell you be there at 1000 and you are, you should be seen by 1015 at the latest, IMHO.
Oh! And how about the exam room shuffle? They sit you in the waiting room, then move you to the exam room, giving that sense of hope that you're about to be seen. Then you sit there for another 45 minutes! Oh I could just...
Oh! And how about the exam room shuffle? They sit you in the waiting room, then move you to the exam room, giving that sense of hope that you're about to be seen. Then you sit there for another 45 minutes! Oh I could just...
bottoms up
New Member
I love this story too, but at what expense? If I'm the person in the office with the doctor taking an extra 30 minutes (assuming each appt is for 15 minutes), will me and my insurance company be charged for an extra 30 minutes, turning my $20 copay into a $60 copay, and the insurance co.'s portion from $60 into $180? Maybe that's what the industry needs to do to encourage the ins. co. to force doctors to stick to their schedules or they won't pay. For once, the patient would win because the result would be shorter wait times (if doctors aren't getting paid for the semi-overtime, I bet they'd be less likely to run late with patients.) and if patients know they'll have to pay a portion of the 'overtime' they'll stick to the facts versus how little davie did at soccer practice last week. 
My health is valuable enough to me that I would pay the additional time I used, but I can't speak for everyone. :shrug:
My health is valuable enough to me that I would pay the additional time I used, but I can't speak for everyone. :shrug:
SxyPrincess
New Member
It's no fun when you're at the OB/GYN, either. You sit for an hour half-naked and cold.
I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a minute. Say the shoe is on the other foot and YOU'RE the one waiting with your precious child in the waiting room for THREE hours. Your child is sick and irritable and you're going to wait patiently for THREE hours so all the other patients can have as much time as needed with the doctor. I don't think so.
I think it's great that a doctor takes time to talk with a patient, but that same doctor should have SOME idea how long it takes to see a patient and plan accordingly. They shouldn't have their schedule so booked that it becomes an assembly line and when you take extra time with every one of them, it trickles down. For them to get THREE hours behind is unacceptable and is an awful lot of additional time with other patients.
I personally almost always take the earliest time slot first thing in the morning, which alleviates most of the waiting.
I think it's great that a doctor takes time to talk with a patient, but that same doctor should have SOME idea how long it takes to see a patient and plan accordingly. They shouldn't have their schedule so booked that it becomes an assembly line and when you take extra time with every one of them, it trickles down. For them to get THREE hours behind is unacceptable and is an awful lot of additional time with other patients.
I personally almost always take the earliest time slot first thing in the morning, which alleviates most of the waiting.
SxyPrincess
New Member
How many times have you called first thing in the morning, begging for the doctor to slide you in that same day? I've done it several times, and I'm sure I'll do it again. Imagine 10-15 people calling and getting last-minute scheduling just as you.
There could be all sorts of circumstances as to why the individual had to wait three hours, but every doctor's office should schedule accordingly and leave time for those unexpected visitors.
There could be all sorts of circumstances as to why the individual had to wait three hours, but every doctor's office should schedule accordingly and leave time for those unexpected visitors.
SxyPrincess
New Member
No, damnit!Originally posted by ememdee19
Speaking of dr. visits, Sxy...did that rash ever clear up?
Tardy doctor apologizes
LAS VEGAS — A patient infuriated that he was kept waiting three hours for a doctor's appointment has gotten what he wanted: an apology.
"I'm happy. That's exactly what I was looking for," said patient Aristotelis Belavilas, 58. "He should have apologized in the beginning."
Belavilas, of Las Vegas, won a $250 judgment earlier this year after filing a $5,000 small claim against Dr. Ty Weller.
The case sparked a national debate about waiting room etiquette, and fueled physician concerns that it would set a costly precedent.
Weller, a pain management specialist in Las Vegas, did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. His lawyer, Monica Pierce, said Weller was satisfied with the settlement and would drop his appeal.
Weller had said he became overbooked when he scheduled Belavilas for a back pain injection on Feb. 25. He insisted he was trying to accommodate Belavilas before Belavilas left on vacation.
Belavilas complained that his appointment was for 2 p.m., but Weller didn't show up until 5:15 p.m.
In a letter to Belavilas, Weller said he was sorry he missed the appointment and apologized for not appearing more sensitive when he arrived.
LAS VEGAS — A patient infuriated that he was kept waiting three hours for a doctor's appointment has gotten what he wanted: an apology.
"I'm happy. That's exactly what I was looking for," said patient Aristotelis Belavilas, 58. "He should have apologized in the beginning."
Belavilas, of Las Vegas, won a $250 judgment earlier this year after filing a $5,000 small claim against Dr. Ty Weller.
The case sparked a national debate about waiting room etiquette, and fueled physician concerns that it would set a costly precedent.
Weller, a pain management specialist in Las Vegas, did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. His lawyer, Monica Pierce, said Weller was satisfied with the settlement and would drop his appeal.
Weller had said he became overbooked when he scheduled Belavilas for a back pain injection on Feb. 25. He insisted he was trying to accommodate Belavilas before Belavilas left on vacation.
Belavilas complained that his appointment was for 2 p.m., but Weller didn't show up until 5:15 p.m.
In a letter to Belavilas, Weller said he was sorry he missed the appointment and apologized for not appearing more sensitive when he arrived.
