How many patients does a doctor or dentist typically book for a time slot?

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I saw my dentist on Monday for by bi-annual cleaning and exam. I had an 8am appointment and thought I'd be the only one there. When I walked in the office, there were already two others waiting and two came in before I was called.
 

Does your dentist do the cleaning.

Mine opens the office at 7. He has two or three, maybe more, hygienists. They allocate 30 - 60 minutes. When they’re done, he comes in for 5 minutes. He probably doesn’t like to look into a dirty mouth.
 
My dentist is like the ring master in a three ring circus, she has patients in various rooms that are having a variety of things done.

Some procedures don’t require her services and are handled by a hygienist other procedures require time for anesthesia to take effect or for X-rays to be taken, etc…

Some procedures and patients end up requiring more time than planned and cause some overlap.


No big thing. 🤷‍♀️
 
Jules said:
Does your dentist do the cleaning.

Mine opens the office at 7. He has two or three, maybe more, hygienists. They allocate 30 - 60 minutes. When they’re done, he comes in for 5 minutes. He probably doesn’t like to look into a dirty mouth.
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Very similar to my dentist's. A hygienist cleans and takes x-rays (if needed - this visit I don't need them). When she's done, he comes in and does a quick exam.
 
Aunt Bea said:
My dentist is like the ring master in a three ring circus, she has patients in various rooms that are having a variety of things done.

Some procedures don’t require her services and are handled by a hygienist other procedures require time for anesthesia to take effect or for X-rays to be taken, etc…

Some procedures and patients end up requiring more time than planned and cause some overlap.


No big thing. 🤷‍♀️
Click to expand...
Pretty much how my dentist is also!

So, as far as 'how many"... that depends on the type of medical professional and what the procedures are for that day.
 
I don't know how many they book for a time slot, but the PCP before the one I have now said she was only allotted 15 minutes per patient. She didn't like treating patients like a herd of cattle. That could be why she left that position a short time later to work with military physicals.
 
My primary care physician supposedly is limited to 15 minutes per patient for routine exams, but he never makes me feel he's rushed, and has gone over that amount of time when necessary.

If I just see the dental hygienest for routine cleaning, it's a certain price. If I see the dentist, which is optional, there is an additional charge. I do not get x-rays with most visits and when I don't, they just ask me to sign a form. They do not require routine x-rays. If a patient was complaining of pain, they would probably require x-rays to be sure what they're dealing with.
 
The dental practice we have accepts our Medicare Advantage plan. With $4,000.00 allowance for both my wife & me there is no out of pocket costs for the cleaning, X-rays or other dental work. Typically 1 hour unless a crown or other work is done. Then it's however long it takes.

To answer the question. Usually 2 or 3 people waiting but always right on time.
 
My mom used to go to a doctor who, after about a minute with her, started looking at his watch. One time he just got up and left the exam room while she was in mid-sentence. She got do miffed that she asked him during one visit why he did that. He said that he allows 2 minutes per patient! So you'd better be concise when telling him your reasons for seeing him. That is what I call "treating patients like cattle" - the more patients he could see - the more money he makes. If he sees 30 patients a minute and works an 8 hour day and bills $200 for a visit, that's $48,000 a day!

And it isn't just the doctor, his staff were abrupt and verbally abusive. One time I went to the reception window to check mom in and the receptionist had her back to the window. I waited several minutes and she didn't check to see if anyone had come in, so I tapped gently on the widow with the knuckle of my index finger. She whirled around, threw open the window and yelled. "Never, ever, knock on the window like that again!"

He is still in business and reviews of him on "Healthgrades" are excellent. I find that hard to believe. His parking lot is always filled to capacity whenever I have the occasion to drive by.
 
I have switched doctors for "rushing the patient out" practice. Making the patient feel brushed off is not good medical (or dental) practice; I don't care how good their technical skills.

My dentist is very good, and runs his practice much like the one described by Aunt Bea. After the hygienist is done, the dentist comes in and does his exam. He's the only dentist, and his staff consists of 3-4 assistants, technicians, a hygienist, and a receptionist.

My only complaint is his prices.
 

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