Why is it I can seldom get an doctor's appointment at a time I prefer?

[debodun]

My retinal surgeon and also gynecologist are terrible at this. I always like to get a very early morning slot to get it out of the way and I am always given an afternoon appt. When I reiterate MORNING, I am told "That's the earliest appointment we have open." When I stress it isn't the earliest DAY, it the earliest TIME of day, I get blank stares. It's like they don't even listen. Clerks probably just look at the appointment book and give me the next opening instead of searching for one I'd prefer.

 

[Jules]

I find that making the appointment when I’m standing right there, they’re willing to search. On the phone, that’s “all they have”.

 

[Knight]

Thank you for your posts about the problems you have. I wish you didn't have them. But since you do they serve to remind me of how lucky my wife & I are to have planned to live where we do.

Since neither my wife or I need constant medical care we can schedule appointments for the day & time that suits us.

As for your other post about summer school & being taxed @4k a year. We don't have school tax. That 4k amount you pay, would pay our yearly property tax, water bill for a year, sewage bill for a year, water heater & cooking gas bill for a year & almost the electric bill for a year.

 

[Pepper]

Love, love, love your new avatar deb!

 

[Aunt Bea]

I never seem to have a problem getting the first appointment at my PCP and retina surgeon but my appointments are usually made 3-6 months in advance.

Usually while in the office just finishing up an appointment.

My gripe is the number of confirmation texts and emails I receive to confirm the appointments.

 

[CallMeKate]

I've done a very direct "what's the earliest date you can get me in at 9 a.m.?" I can't remember an instance that it didn't work.

 

[Nathan]

My retinal surgeon and also gynecologist are terrible at this. I always like to get a very early morning slot to get it out of the way and I am always given an afternoon appt. When I reiterate MORNING, I am told "That's the earliest appointment we have open." When I stress it isn't the earliest DAY, it the earliest TIME of day, I get blank stares. It's like they don't even listen. Clerks probably just look at the appointment book and give me the next opening instead of searching for one I'd prefer.

It never fails, when trying to make an appointment located at the Kaiser hospital that's an 80 mile round trip away, they try to "get me in" on a Friday afternoon at 3:45pm. Really??? They always assume that I live with-in a mile or 2 from the hospital. The return trip home after the appointment would be the most miserable hour and a half of stop-n-go traffic snaking along up the pass. I never accept those appointments.

 

[Disgustedman]

Of course I'm lucky I have a clinic over in Woodland that I decided that driving 20 miles was worth it. Compared to a local Clinic which is servicing over possibly 5 to 6,000 people.

I asked for an appointment one time. because of my UTI and I was told it would be July 15th before I could be seen. I told them any time is good even. So I then called up the old Woodland Clinic and they said "You want to be seen tomorrow?"

I'm like yeah sure but that's the problem, if you've got a good quality doctor who knows their stuff, well obviously people are going to want that person to be making the medical decisions. That's why it's tough to get an appointment.

Oh and I can look online for the soonest available.

 

[oscash]

I like to do an online booking to see my G.P. then I can choose when I can go. Specialists are another kettle of fish. Usually, a.m. because that's the time they have finished their rounds at the hospital

 

[hollydolly]

It never fails, when trying to make an appointment located at the Kaiser hospital that's an 80 mile round trip away, they try to "get me in" on a Friday afternoon at 3:45pm. Really??? They always assume that I live with-in a mile or 2 from the hospital. The return trip home after the appointment would be the most miserable hour and a half of stop-n-go traffic snaking along up the pass. I never accept those appointments.

same thing happens here. I often wonder who are the people getting morning appointments when they almost always give me an appt near the end of the day when I'll be stuck in traffic both ways ...and also the doctor is going to be really tired...

 

[hollydolly]

I like to do an online booking to see my G.P. then I can choose when I can go. Specialists are another kettle of fish. Usually, a.m. because that's the time they have finished their rounds at the hospital

here you can't even choose the day, much less the time...we're lucky to get an appt with the GP in under 3 weeks...

 

[That Lady in PA]

With my retina guy, the appointment is made at my convenience as I am exiting.
I have never been disappointed with the time/date I get.

If they give you a time you don't want, tell them it doesn't work for you ... then tell them what YOU want.

 

[Flarbalard]

Often specialists have hospital rounds, or procedures in the morning hours and simply aren't available to see patients in their office early in the day.

 

[Judycat]

Blah I hate making appointments. I just say I don't care whatever you have open. Then they say morning? Afternoon? I'll say morning sounds good. Then they say early morning? Later? WTH? I usually pick later. Drives me nuts and them too. Haha. Sometimes the receptionist just says, OK I got a 3:15 pm two weeks from now or a 10:00 am in three months. Three months sounds good. Thanks.

 

[papa tiger]

Maybe a doctor treats 40 patients a day.
Given a population of 1 million ill elders that means
Waiting for approximately 25 days if there are 1000
doctors / clinical practices in the area.

I doubt a Dr. treats 40 different patients a day every day.
I suppose a 45 day wait is sort of a thing, with never getting a
9 am appointment. ... ...

I can recall the Heal Thyself phrase !

14 Benefits of Castor Oil for Pain and Inflammation Relief

 

[January]

I've done a very direct "what's the earliest date you can get me in at 9 a.m.?" I can't remember an instance that it didn't work.

That seems clearer wording to me than " it isn't the earliest DAY, it the earliest TIME of day,"

 

[debodun]

A doctor's office just called to confirm the appointment they gave me by email and I mentioned that I had requested a morning appointment and they had set me up for a 3:15 pm slot. The person said that I had specified a certain doctor and at their satellite office. That particular doctor doesn't have morning hours at the satellite office any longer. If I wanted to reschedule for morning, I could go to the main office or see another doctor

I like the doctor and have been seeing her for many years, Also, it would entail driving in an unfamiliar, busy, congested area and my eyesight isn't that good. The afternoon appt. seemed the lesser of 2 evils.

 

[Rich]

Like most here, I prefer the earliest appointment—partly to get it over with, but mainly because delays tend to pile up as the day goes on, and the later you’re scheduled, the longer the wait becomes.

 

[That Lady in PA]

A doctor's office just called to confirm the appointment they gave me by email and I mentioned that I had requested a morning appointment and they had set me up for a 3:15 pm slot. The person said that I had specified a certain doctor and at their satellite office. That particular doctor doesn't have morning hours at the satellite office any longer. If I wanted to reschedule for morning, I could go to the main office or see another doctor

I like the doctor and have been seeing her for many years, Also, it would entail driving in an unfamiliar, busy, congested area and my eyesight isn't that good. The afternoon appt. seemed the lesser of 2 evils.

Well, there you go... the "why" had been explained!

 

[debodun]

Like most here, I prefer the earliest appointment—partly to get it over with, but mainly because delays tend to pile up as the day goes on, and the later you’re scheduled, the longer the wait becomes.

That's exactly why it may be difficult to get morning slots. Everybody wants those, so they fill quickly.

 

[hollydolly]

Blah I hate making appointments. I just say I don't care whatever you have open. Then they say morning? Afternoon? I'll say morning sounds good. Then they say early morning? Later? WTH? I usually pick later. Drives me nuts and them too. Haha. Sometimes the receptionist just says, OK I got a 3:15 pm two weeks from now or a 10:00 am in three months. Three months sounds good. Thanks.

I always say when they ask ( it's usually the dentist that I get a choice from ).... anywhere around mid-day... which means they can offer me anything from 11am to 1pm....