Yes.  Virtually every doctor in the clinic I go to maintains his schedule.
There are almost never more than two patients waiting for a given doctor and
I seldom wait more than ten minutes past my time.

I think that is pretty amazing given they have to deal with patients who
arrive late and who need to see a doctor right away or who need more time
than they were allotted.

Part of the way they manage this is to have a Urgent Care clinic for
patients who do need to be seen but that their own doctor just can't fit in
at the last minute without trashing his schedule for the whole day.

Another thing that helps is to make your appointment for their first hour in
the morning or their first hour after lunch.  Before things get away from
them.

(And never make an appointment for Monday if you can help it)

Exception, the OB doctors for obvious reasons.  They tell you to call before
you leave for your appointment to see what is happening with the schedule.

Jo

Yea, mine :) The longest I've had to wait is 5 minutes past my
appointment time. My cardiologist generally takes me either at or before
my appointment time. You gotta love living in the state of Washington :)
NYC was NEVER like this...I used to wait for HOURS.

Carole

I never have to wait at my GP's office and always bragged about it.
However,  I needed to see him to get a B12 shot in between my
appointments and was told by the receptionist that I would have to wait
three weeks even though it would only take up less than five minutes of
his time.  I called my endo doc and she said to come in an hour later
for my shot.
The GP will hear about this from me at my next appt.  I have never left
there without him telling me to call if I had any problems.  I would
hope that his receptionist didn't take it upon herself to make the rules
and that he gave instructions to her, but we shall see.

Ann

I have occasionally had to wait, at both my GP and my rheumy's, but
they're always apologetic. I always bring knitting or something to read,
and there are times I get less than a row of knitting done. This is in
southern Connecticut.

Not much to say about the waiting thing.  i actually find that the
docs who i have to wait the longest with are often the ones who take
the longest amount of time with me.  I, on the other hand, have never
had anyone backed up more than 15 minutes  That said....it is good to
see you posting, Judy.  I am so missing old members that when I see a
familiar name of someone who doesn't post often, It just makes my
day.  So how are you?

melinda

I have waited am hour or more for my GP, and over two hours for my
cardiologist.  However, my cardiologist takes all the time he needs with
each patient.  I appreciate that when I'm the one he is seeing and he is
such a good doctor that I'd rather wait for him than see someone else.  He
is the one who discovered the problem with my lungs and sent me to a
pulmonologist.  He is certified in internal medicine and as cardiologist.
He is interested in the whole patient, not just my heart.  I never have to
wait long at my RD's office.

My GP is retiring at the end of this month.  I've been seeing him since I
came to Alabama (6 yrs) and now I have to change.  However, one of his
partners (who is also leaving that office) is the father of my
granddaughter's boyfriend of 18 months, and although he will not be taking
new patients he told Annie that he will take me.  He'll be taking patients
in the mornings and in the afternoons, he will be supervising the resident's
program at the largest hospital in town.

Beginning tomorrow, I can put full weight on my broken ankle, have been 30%
for 10 days. I have a therapist coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help me
learn to use a walker instead of my wheelchair.  But I don't go back to the
doctor until April 30th, so I still have to wear the full boot from toes to
knee until then.  I'll sure be glad when that can come off.

My cardiologist asked me if I wanted a second opinion on my lung problems; I
decided I did.  Had my appointment a couple of weeks ago and am very glad I
did.  The previous one spent maybe 5 to 10 minutes with me and always told
me there wasn't any change--to come back in 6 months, or a year.  The new
one had me do an overnight test on how much oxygen I was getting, and
scheduled me for a CT Scan to compare with the one I had 3 years ago.  Also
asked me get chest xrays for as far back as I could to bring next time.  I
am now on oxygen when I'm sleeping.  I have all of my GP's xrays to take him
when I go back on May 1st. He spent quite a long time with me(and my DIL)
and was so much more concerned about me than the first one was.  So very
happy that I got the second opinion.  He also called me himself to discuss
the oxygen with me; the first time that has happened since I've been in
Montgomery.  I think I'll keep him!

Gwen

I've never waited more than ten minutes at my current doctor's office,
or at any of the other specialists I've seen here. That's a completely
different story from when I was living in Los Angeles, however.

-- Ashley

=========
~~AN.

I 1st thought the reference to 'G P' meant this thread was a UK issue ..
So now I know General Practicing local Doctors are called GP's in the US..

Its lovely & a little funny to read so many posts pleased to be seen when
they want
within a few minutes .
The UK story for nearly all areas is to be given & appointment at some
specific
time within the next day or so...if you want a different time / day then its
a 2 - 3 week wait for a slightly less limited offer of choices.

Another Favorite method is to require patients to 'phone for an appointment
ONLY on the day they want it 1st thing in the morning & be 'told'
to come some specific time that day...perhaps in the evening ..

We can try to haggle & negotiate but doesn't get a Bunny far ..
The on the phone receptionist's are nearly mad with the strain of workload.
Having to 'phone the Surgery is a dreaded business.
Strangely much of this has come from Government setting targets to improve
waiting times ...trying to meet the target means damaging 9 other things
& tricky tactics adopted.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")  Mouse