May 6, 2012
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Hurry up and wait
These last couple of weeks, I felt a bit like I have been camping out in some medical office waiting room or another. Sometimes there are interesting folks to watch and/or chat with, but of course, one cannot always count on that diversion being provided, so that is why I bring my “busy bag” with me. I keep magazines and newsletters that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet, whatever book we are studying in our book group and any “portable” work that needs to be done for my business, like putting contact information stickers on samples and that sort of thing in there. This really helps me wait much more patiently since that is a skill which I always seem to need to improve.
Thankfully, I was feeling pretty good for most of these times recently and nearly everything was just the usual check-up/lab work/follow-up sort of thing, but I cannot even imagine how different the experience would have been if I was in great pain, either from actual physical symptoms or that awful, not-knowing feeling while waiting for lab test or x-ray results…then there is the payment/insurance filing quagmire. Yikes! Moments can seem like hours and hours can feel like a lifetime.
While I was sitting in one of those places, I decided that there needed to be guidelines regarding the maximum amount of time anyone should be expected to wait and began compiling them in my head:- For rooms with comfy chairs, functional climate control set at a reasonable temperature, interesting show on the television (or better yet, turned off) and no screaming children: 30 to 45 minutes maximum.
- For each item missing from this list, deduct 5 minutes, with the possible exception of deducting 10 minutes for soap operas on the television. After all, anyone who really follows them will either stay home to watch or record them for later so they do not miss a single moment and everyone else has no clue what is going on anyway.
What do YOU think about when you find yourself in a waiting room?
Comments (5)
I have to make a counter for waiting time.
1. If you have a chronic disease or something and a regular appointment, usually wait times should not be excessive.
2. Good doctors that thoroughly explain things and gives you handout sheets should be given leeway because they devote extra time to emergencies.
3. Paperwork required for first time visits add extra minutes.
4. Consultation for medical procedures means a patient is relegated as a sideline.
5. Does doctor assistant count as medical care? Nurses and secretaries I suppose should do the prep work for a doctor.
I hate waiting too. Since I have my Angry Birds device I can play instead of reading magazines I can’t concentrate on anyways. A lot of magazines are full of junk so I might as well play, right?
I read the magazines if I haven’t read them before. If I can find a crossword puzzle I do it. Stuck in a little room with no reading material, I play the alphabet game using signs that seem to always be on the walls.
I usually have a time limit in my head and if I’m not seen in that time, I go up to the desk and tell them I can’t wait and make another appointment…I have even changed to another doctor if it is a cronic late place…
I use the alaphabet game on trips…for doctors office visits, lab visits, exray visits I have one of my books with me…I even keep a book in the car along with some magazines and even the bible…waiting time is put to useful time….also there is waiting for kids to get outta school, when they get done talking to their freinds, lol…event waiting time…but for me now it is the top 3 that keep me up on me reading time…lol…but later on this month there will not be much waiting time…I will arrive at the lab at opening time and say “I’m trading this worksheet for a cup, if I have to wait there will be an accident that you will be responsible for”, I usually have no waiting time on lab visits like these…then when I come out they are ready for 6 or 7 vials of blood…yeah I know after the first one they own me…lol…smile