Doctors Appointments

[Ukbrassowtipin]

I am not taking a position of defending doctors practices, particularly on how they manage daily schedules.

However, two of the primary drivers of this behavior is the high cost of malpractice insurance and the heavy load of student loan debt most doctors carry.

These two items create an environment where most doctors, particularly specialists, must see as many patients as possible in order to create maximum cash flow.

I would still take our medical system over pretty much any other I have investigated.

Yes, but that's not the only issue at play..especially if your doctor is good.

We live in a I'll treat my body as poorly as possible then when I'm in terrible shape I'll finally decide to go to the doctor and demand that he be a wizard and fix me as opposed to coming in preventatively. Not only that if your doctor is good, he will try to examine you completely as opposed to just looking at your current ailment.

Also, out of all the patients...you may not be the most important at that moment. The person before you may have just found out they have cancer...I would think the doctor is going to console that person a little longer and talk about their options. Or sorry you got bumped, blood results came in and so and so has HIV, they need to be brought in promptly. Or last night old Bethel who's been a patient for 30 yrs,even makes the office cookies sometimes, her daughter called and they are putting her in hospice...the provider may not be in the best mood now, what other options could have been considered, what's the new plan moving forward......oh wait Billy pulled a groin

 

[Crushgroove]

Very true. My 99% vegetarian mom (she splurges once in a blue moon and eats meat) that drinks nothing but water and has a bunch of knee, ankle, wrist, and arthritis problems that makes it extremely difficult to lose weight despite very much wanting to and has been depressed at times by her inability to do it went to a doctor once because she was sick with something. After she was diagnosed, the family doctor she had been visiting for years and knew about her physical ailments said, or at least she claims the doctor said, "you are fat, have you considered losing weight?" Like are you serious bro, can you be any more heartless and cruel? My mom walked out on him and changed doctors the next day.

I believe her. I slipped a disc in my back last spring, couldn't go on walks w/dog and couldn't exercise (daily activities for me), put on some weight over the next few months and started losing feeling in my hands. Went to my doc to get referred to an ortho for x-ray/rehab b/c I'm scared of pain pills, he basically told me I was obese and needed to lose some weight and that's why my hands were going numb AND why I hurt my back, even though he knew I'd put on 20 lbs since the injury. I'm 6'-1" and weighed 225 at the time. I didn't take it so much as heartless or cruel as much as I took it as lazy. Sad thing is, I still go to him b/c it's too much hassle to find a new doc I like and is covered under my insurance.

 

[drxman1]

Sure, there are nicer ways to than just coming out and calling you fat...but lets be honest, it's not like your doctor is making it up to insult you.

Obesity is one of the biggest health epidemics there is. It leads to diabetes, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, arthritis...and then the whole metabolic system. You basically slowly rot from the inside out, as all of the above factors destroy your circulation system, eyes, kidneys, joints...and YOU end up sitting in more doctors offices, taking more drugs, spending more money.

Whatever reasons led to your obesity, take a long hard look in the mirror, have a moment, then hit the pavement. Your life depends on it.

 

[UKGrad93]

How does one find a doctor that isn't a complete a-hole? Serious question.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Sure, there are nicer ways to than just coming out and calling you fat...but lets be honest, it's not like your doctor is making it up to insult you.

Obesity is one of the biggest health epidemics there is. It leads to diabetes, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, arthritis...and then the whole metabolic system. You basically slowly rot from the inside out, as all of the above factors destroy your circulation system, eyes, kidneys, joints...and YOU end up sitting in more doctors offices, taking more drugs, spending more money.

Whatever reasons led to your obesity, take a long hard look in the mirror, have a moment, then hit the pavement. Your life depends on it.

Aren't you the dude with handicap bars in your damn shower?

 

[drxman1]

Does that make it any less true?

I've got work to do, just like everyone else.

 

[Festivus Miracle]

Does anyone remember the movie "The Doctor" with William Hurt?

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

Sure, there are nicer ways to than just coming out and calling you fat...but lets be honest, it's not like your doctor is making it up to insult you.

Obesity is one of the biggest health epidemics there is. It leads to diabetes, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, arthritis...and then the whole metabolic system. You basically slowly rot from the inside out, as all of the above factors destroy your circulation system, eyes, kidneys, joints...and YOU end up sitting in more doctors offices, taking more drugs, spending more money.

Whatever reasons led to your obesity, take a long hard look in the mirror, have a moment, then hit the pavement. Your life depends on it.

Listen to this man. He speaks from a position of knowledge, both as a doctor and as a turning-obese person.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

OP, just be happy your doctor isn't stealing the office samples given by pharmaceutical reps and "self-medicating" through the day while treating patients.

One of my doctors was. True story.

 

[drxman1]

Pavement or treadmill is fine, I prefer treadmill. Just do something.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

I believe her. I slipped a disc in my back last spring, couldn't go on walks w/dog and couldn't exercise (daily activities for me), put on some weight over the next few months and started losing feeling in my hands. Went to my doc to get referred to an ortho for x-ray/rehab b/c I'm scared of pain pills, he basically told me I was obese and needed to lose some weight and that's why my hands were going numb AND why I hurt my back, even though he knew I'd put on 20 lbs since the injury. I'm 6'-1" and weighed 225 at the time. I didn't take it so much as heartless or cruel as much as I took it as lazy. Sad thing is, I still go to him b/c it's too much hassle to find a new doc I like and is covered under my insurance.

Makes me think of that Aflac commercial with the yoga girls and the duck. I didn't know people still used this phrase.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

We had a neurosurgeon here in Paducah who would -- among other things -- start an IV on himself, and then sneak in and hook up himself up to his patient's pain med lines while they were asleep [laughing].

That's actually pretty impressive, in a totally messed up kind of way.

 

[starchief]

If you want a doctor who won't say much about your weight, find an obese doctor (plenty of them around). They won't mention it very often.

 

[catholic_back]

I don't know a single neurosurgeon who could start an IV.

And UCL is 1000000000% correct, and the data back it up. The #1, 2, and 3 reasons for lawsuit are poor interpersonal skills or a simple lack of empathy/apology.

 

[starchief]

I don't know a single neurosurgeon who could start an IV.

And UCL is 1000000000% correct, and the data back it up. The #1, 2, and 3 reasons for lawsuit are poor interpersonal skills or a simple lack of empathy/apology.

I suspect a motivated one could learn fairly easily.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

If you want a doctor who won't say much about your weight, find an obese doctor (plenty of them around). They won't mention it very often.

I have a friend who smokes like a chimney but is in great shape. His physician (morbidly obese) was reading him the riot act one time re: smoking. Dave looked him right in the eyes and said "Doc, anytime you wanna take a jog around the clinic parking lot with me, let me know." Never heard another word about tobacco after that.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

Q: How do you hide $100 from a neurosurgeon?





A: Give it to his kids.

 

[catholic_back]

I suspect a motivated one could learn fairly easily.

I suspect it was a touching joke.

 

[Deeeefense]

Believe it or not the doc I have been going to for the past 7 year (twice a year) has never been more than 10 minutes late on an appointment time and is usually a few minutes early.

If I have a emergency I use Doctors Express, it's the best "doc in a box" type place I have used. Very quick and professional, or if it's something minor I use the minute clinics at CVS which is great.

Anytime I have to go to a different doctor I tell the receptionist that if they are more than a half hour later in seeing me I will leave and will not be responsible for any fees as it was THEY that failed to kept the appointment not me. Nothing POs me more than an arrogant doctor that has no respect or concern for anyone's time other than their own.

BTW there is waiting room management software available for doctors offices that allows the staff to plan appointment times based on patient profile and other contingencies. My doc uses it which is why he is always on time and his waiting room is usually empty, yet he has a full book of patients.

 

[UKGrad93]

We had an ortho doc that setup a private bank account with a name simalar to our hospital's name. He would see patients and somehow bill them directly. The checks were sent to his personal account.

He resigned and moved on when he started getting investigated. Made off with at least $1.8M in addition to his regular salary and benefits.

 

[Guess Who]

My wife has multiple chronic debilitating issues for about 10 yrs now.. I deal with 6 drs on a relative regular basis. 1st, 2nd opinions are a must sometimes. As important are Drs that are considerate of your appointment scheduling with out major waiting. Also their "manners" equally important. I have changed Drs successfully due to their faults in said such categories. No one likes an ******* Dr or one that doesn't seem to be courteous with your time & issue on top of it. of course I live where there's a great deal of excellent Drs thank God. Rule #1, don't put up with a Dr's crap if you have a choice. I'll step down now...

 

[wildcatwelder_rivals]

I began going to a clinic, and seeing a PT, in 2001, due to my career ending injury. My first two appointments with the clinic were not good; I had to wait 2-3 hours to be seen. On the 2nd visit my doctor asked "so, you STILL work?" I told him yes, that I had changed careers rather than go on disability.

He told me that @ 90% of all the patients who come there do not, or cannot, work, so from that point on I was placed on a "no wait" list, because I had to get back to work. Now I'm usually in and out fairly quickly, and able to work the same day I have an appt.

As for my primary care doctor, I don't know how she does it, but I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes from the time of my appt. She very personable, and we're actually friends, and we'll talk for 10-15 minutes before she begins her role as my doctor. She doesn't double book, so I suppose that's why she can spend extra time with her patients.

 

[3 fan_rivals214492]

Dr's are people too. They have families and maybe in this situation a kid was sick, babysitter didn't show, etc., just like real life. He should have apologized for delay and explained it.