In an article posted by The Washington Post, we learn that residents of some of the country’s most prominent cities are experiencing prolonged wait times when they try to schedule an appointment with their physician. The study found that out of the 15 cities researched, 12 of them had patient wait times of 14 days or longer. The article's principal point is that "the average wait time for a new patient to see a physician in five medical specialties is 18.5 days." This means that someone identified a concern they have about their health and then had to wait more than two weeks to get answers.
Accessing doctors is just one of the maddening things about medical care, but the secret to navigating it all lie within the following tips and tricks:
1) Same-day appointments are not unheard of
Generally, when you call to schedule an appointment it's very difficult to see your doctor the same day. If you need a day-of visit, call between 10 and 11 AM, because that's when most offices will know about afternoon cancellations.
If your last-minute request is due to an urgent matter, make that clear to the receptionist. And one rule reigns over all others: be flexible. If the office can squeeze you in, take whatever time they can give you.
2) Schedule early morning or right-after-lunch appointments
The early morning hours and the time immediately following lunch are when doctors are most likely to be on time, so your wait time hopefully won't be as long. If these slots don't fit your schedule, make a Wednesday appointment. Wednesdays are the slowest day in most offices. So, choose your day wisely. Avoid appointments on Mondays and Fridays; they're the busiest days in most offices.
3) Schedule your annual checkup for late spring or summer
From May through August, most people are relatively healthy and on vacation, so doctors' offices of all kinds are quieter. September is good, too, because it's back-to-school time. But, stay away in December. Cold and flu season makes winter the busiest time, with December being especially hectic. Another reason to avoid December is that people want to use up their insurance benefits or flexible spending accounts the before year's end.
4) Call the office ahead of time
If you have a late-day appointment, call the office an hour ahead of time to see if the doctor is on schedule. If not, ask what time would be best to show up so you're not sitting in the waiting room for too long.
5) Request paperwork ahead of time
If you can't arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment or if you live far from the office, ask the office to send the required forms beforehand via email.
6) Schedule your own appointment
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7) Don't visit with a long list of ailments
Some patients save all of their medical concerns and questions for their annual checkup when their time with the doctor is limited (15 minutes). In reality, arriving with too many things to discuss will detract from your appointment. If you have 10 different items, the doctor won't have enough time to focus on each one. Try to limit each visit to two issues.
8) Be timely
Tardy or unprepared patients are the main reasons doctors fall behind. Showing up on time is vastly important because you're able to get your full consultation without being rushed. If you are late than the best thing you can do is get in touch with the office via phone call or email. If you absolutely can't avoid being late, know that a patient who arrives after you for a later appointment, but is on time, will likely be seen first.
9) Do not become impatient and frustrated
If there's one thing many patients lack, it's patience. Try to keep your complaints to yourself so you don't bother the office employees and other patients. Furthermore, receptionists recognize irritated and disgruntled patients; therefore, it is not wise to annoy the person who helps you schedule your appointments. Bring a magazine, Kindle, or book with you to prevent boredom and frustration while waiting.
Even though the above tips can help you schedule more timely doctors appointments, there is one guaranteed way for patients to schedule same or next-day appointments and this is through direct primary care. By signing up with a direct primary care practice, you'll be able to see your doctor within hours, receive comprehensive medical attention, spend a minimum of 30 minutes with their doctor, and you'll be able to call your doctor 24 / 7 with any medical concerns you may have.
