The Best Doctor Hacks for Better Appointments
Getting stuck in the doctor’s waiting room for almost an hour is just torture, especially when it comes to appointments for your kids. You can make your doctor’s visit go a little more smoothly with these hacks.
Get Your Doctor’s Schedule
Talk with the nurse to find out more about your doctor’s schedule. Learn how long their appointments usually last, and if they have designated time slots for urgent or same-day appointments. The nurse will also be able to let you know if the doctor sets aside daily office hours for non-emergency conversations, or if they answer emails or texts.
For Non-Urgent Visits, Go In the Summer
During the winter time, the waiting rooms are generally packed. People are more likely to get sick in the winter, and if you are there for a general check-up, you might leave the waiting room with a sickness of your own. Instead, for general check-ups and procedures, try to schedule them in the summer time. Summer time is also a better time to schedule your child’s yearly appointments, because again, it would be inconvenient to go to the doctor healthy, only to pick up a sickness in the waiting room.
Book Your Appointment at the Right Time
When booking your appointment for the doctor, ask for the first appointment of the morning. Not only will you have less wait time, but you also get to your doctor before they get too busy or fall behind schedule. The best days to avoid are Mondays and Fridays. However, Wednesdays are generally the slowest days of the week. If you do have an appointment on Monday or Friday, try telling the receptionist nicely the time you must leave by. Sometimes the receptionist will be able to prevent booking you next to a procedure or annual visit, which takes longer.
Limit Your Ailments
For those that go to the doctor once a year, it can be tempting to bring them a long list of your ailments and questions. However, doctors just do not have enough time to go through all of your ailments. Instead, discuss the top two questions or ailments you have. Then, if you would like to talk about more, make a follow-up appointment.
When it comes to getting in and out of the doctor’s office, these tricks will help. When you need a last-minute appointment, try calling first thing in the morning to get priority.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Ilmicrofono Oggiono
