A True Story That May Help Explain Why Some of Us Wait So Long at the Doctor’s Office?
I went to the doctor this morning for my 6 month checkup. I always try to make appointments the same time as the door opens at 8:30 so I don’t have to sit in the waiting room for long periods of time. But today’s visit was different.
As usual, I arrived 30 minutes early and paced around the parking lot in anticipation of another exciting checkup (what will he find this time?) Patients started showing up, most sitting in their car or truck eyeballing the front door for signs of life. Two old guys decided to join me in the parking area in front of the entrance. “Hi, how are you? asked one. “Great, looking forward to another exciting visit with my doctor……been waiting six months for this!” I replied.
Suddenly a person appears from inside and opens the door. “Welcome early birds, come on in!” Little did she know how true that was.
I’m in pretty good physical condition for my age, don’t need one of those motorized sit-down scooters you see buzzing around in the grocery store, but boy o boy were these two old guys in shape! Before I could get my legs to move these two guys sprinted into the building and stood in line at the check in counter. I was number 3. Fast as the first two were to the finish line, they morphed before my very own eyes into another mode characterized by exhaustion, fumbling for their health insurance cards and laboriously filling out forms with assistance from the in-take clerk.
Finally my turn came. “I’m here to see Dr. A for my 8:30 appointment” I said. “What’s you name and date of birth? replied the nice girl behind the window.
She scans her screen. “Sir, you’re Johnny On The Spot this morning! You’re appointment is October 16, not September 16!”
“Oh………….That’s Ok, I always like getting to my appointments early. I hate being late as it’s impolite. It’s a generational thing you know. Mind if I sit in the waiting room?”
FROM A PHYSICIAN: I think there’s medication for that condition now.
