The Doctor has left the building

Everyday we experience a 'Major crisis' of some kind or another. Take today for example: we had a 3:30 doctor's appointment, we unfortunately were 15 minutes late due to late afternoon traffic, when we arrived at the office, the doctor had left, because we were late. How many times have we had to wait for the doctor? We both have health issues, so getting to the doctor is an ordeal in itself. To go through all of that trouble, which for us is a lot, and to arrive at our destination, only to find that the doctor had already left the building!

I agree with you infact I had surgery on my left hand and I went in to day to get my stitches out and I waited for an hour and no one called me back and I finally went up to the desk and asked the nurse how long did she think I would be called back and she said it will be at least another hour and half and I asked her why?she told me that he had gone to lunch and it really pissed me off.When I did finally did get to see him I asked him and he just blew me off but not before I told him how I felt about it.So total time I waited to see him two hours and forty minutes.I also have been aq little late only to find that my doctor had left for the day.

The general practitioner in our small town is ALWAYS so far behind that it is a 3 hour chore at the minimum for a 5-10 minute consult.

My daughter drives by on her way home from work, stops in, signs the sheet, goes home, showers, dresses and goes back to the office where she still has at least a 1/2 wait before seeing the doctor.

I left that practive and drive a half hour to a GOOD family doctor who is conscientious of his patients and has his staff schedule appointments accordingly.

My husband still foolishly goes to the same doctor as my daughter "because its only a 5 minute drive from home"!! Duh! We've both left the house at the same time for appointments. I've driven the half hour, seen my doctor, stopped at Arby's for 2 MarketFresh sandwiches, drove the 1/2 hour home and pulled in the driveway ahead of hubby who "only" drove 5 minutes, signed in, sat, finally saw the doctor and drove the 5 minutes home.

My family doctor will make me wait forever too. I've learned to NOT make early in the day appointments with him. Because he doesn't even come in to the office until around 10:00 am. Which means he's got ROOMS full of people waiting to see him since 9! Then you have to wait for him to see all those people, which seems rushed of course. I've never liked that some doctors don't value their patients time. I understand delays and emergencies happen, but when it's their "regular" routine it gets annoying. I do like him as a doctor though, so I've learned when to make my appointments!

I agree with calling if your going to be late though. If not they don't know if you are skipping the appointment all together, so that's probably why he left. In the offices I've worked in they will automatically reschedule your appointment if your late without calling (or if too late even with calling). Some even charge for being late. Which I think is a bit much!