Kathy said around mid-afternoon on July 5, 2007
I have a series of things I’ve been meaning to post about but I keep getting distracted with cuteness in the form of an 18 month old toddler who thinks his mom is just the bestest. We had our routine 18 Month checkup today and all is well, although every time I go into the pediatricians office I am reminded of the thoughts that go through my head every single time I’m in there.
Why, in this age where we have computers, Internet, advanced technology, telephones, cell phones and a bevy of other nonsense like the almighty iPhone (seriously...does this thing dispense vodka? If not I could give a crap) are we still wasting away precious time sitting around waiting. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Doctors. I do. The volume of bull they must go through on a daily basis is more than I could ever take. They get “big ups” from me. But how is it that we can still not figure out how to schedule an appointment? Seriously. I can count on one hand how many times I was actually seen by a Doctor within a half hour of my appointment. Just about every visit to a Doctor, pediatrician or otherwise has left me waiting in both the waiting room and in the exam room. They have a whole room for the waiting...why am I sitting on deli paper naked waiting more?
Every time I have gone to a pediatrician visit we are waiting in the waiting room and then waiting again for sometimes over an hour to be seen. So an appointment at 2:00pm is actually more like “Let us jerk you around until 3:30pm or 4:00pm”. Again, love Docs… big ups...etc. But office staff, can we please try to figure out how to make an appointment happen somewhere in the actual scope of the appointment time? 20 minutes I can handle… an hour and half makes me go crazy and want to run through the halls swinging my purse at your heads. Otherwise, I’ll have to riffle through all the supply drawers looking for things to play with and/or steal for my own amusement like I did today. While me and my naked toddler waited, we built stuff out of tongue depressors and medical tape. Don’t give me the opportunity to build a slingshot next time because I come armed with ammo in the form of wet diapers.
from your moms.
Or even a webpage that you can view that tells you approximately how far behind they are, so that you can adjust your arrival accordingly? Is that doable?
from Farm Country, PA
Cocktail: Your Mom
Hahahaha. dude. So true. Seriously, when the Meester and I would go to the doctor, we’d schedule appointments together, because of the waiting, and also because we at least amused ourselves by rifling through all of the medical goods. We scored free purple exam gloves whenever we went, which are great for gradening.
from Long Island, NY
I think it’s the dreaded double, and even triple booking practice, that some offices still keep. I know my regular doctor does it but my pediatrician doesn’t. The three times we’ve been there we’ve been shown a room no longer than 3 minutes after checking in with the receptionist. I pray this is the norm and not a ruse to keep us coming back seeing as how we are new clients/patients.
from your moms.
When I was “shopping” for a pediatrician, I was told by one doctor’s office that if I wanted to see the office’s “star” doc, I would have to wait at least an hour. Every time! Thanks for being honest, but damn, that takes balls. Yeah, this doc is not Honey Bee’s doc.
Like your site by the way. I just started blogging, so we’ll see how long I can stick with it.
from West Palm Beach, FL
Cocktail: Champagne Bellini
@Tracy: I wish they had told me that!