Comments & Feedback

Buche, I think your insight is right on target. You sound an awful like one of those overbooked docs.
My own physician is part of a medium sized group, and is occasionally overbooked, but her office has a policy related to scheduling that I think is outstanding.
When scheduling appointments, the patient is asked about the visit purpose, and then, depending upon the nature of the visit, a single block or multiple blocks can be scheduled.
If a new patient is scheduled, their time slot is generally not double booked because they know the entire office will need extra time related to the area of the practice they're involved in (records, nurse, lab, etc.), so while the first 15 minute block might be double booked (the new guy has to fill out paperwork, right?), the next 2-3 aren't so that the doctor can spend a good amount of time with the patient.
Routine check ups, minor illnesses, etc. are scheduled based upon previous knowlede of the patient's last visit or two because the patient file usually includes notes about whether the patient came in for what they scheduled the appointment for, or added extra issues to their visit (scheduled for BP check up, but started taking about back problems or other stuff). Because the chart contains that information, the doctor can schedule an extra block for that patient, allowing for the possibility that even though the patient comes in for one thing, they'll also ask about other conditions they might have.
Of course, all of this takes time to learn, and a staff that is in tune with the patients that the doctor sees most of the time is crucial.
For myself, I've had to wait because of these issues, so I really do try to stay on task, and always make sure that the scheduling staff knows exactly what I'm coming in for, be it one thing or multiple issues.
Besides, if I feel that I don't want to have to wait, I always make sure to let the doctor know on my first visit that I promise not to be late, or talk about issues that I didn't previously alert the staff to if they will do their best not to make me sit in their office for 2-3 hours for each appointment.
As a result, I find that when I go, I'm generally in the waiting room for less than 1/2 hour, and out of the office with whatever I need in less than 1 hour.
If not, then it's almost always because of an unexpected emergency, and the staff often asks if I'd like to reschedule, especially if it's just a routine check up.
The care's great too, by the way.

— Inkybud56

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