how long do you wait at pediatrician?

wife1014 · August 2011

I switched practices. Our original Dr never had a wait. We were called in within a couple of minutes and the Dr would come in the room within 5 or so. The new practice is awful. Last week for a sick visit we waited an hour and fifteen minutes, todays well visit had an hour and a half wait. Unacceptable in my book! I am so mad I switched...Ugh. I was trying to avoid a long drive but here I am having to do it by having to switch again.

southernsweetieal · August 2011

no thats not acceptanle in my book either your not saving time from the drive if ou have to wait even longer while your there.

bunsee23 · August 2011

I've never waited longer that 15 mins past my appointment time, and that was after we were taken into a patient room. I would much rather drive and spend that extra time in the car (DD loves car rides) than spend a long time in the waiting room. Esp for a sick visit. Yuck!

insertclevername · August 2011

That is absolutely ridiculous that you had to wait that long and definitely unacceptable.

Our practice never has people sit in the waiting room for more than 5 minutes. Sometimes you wait another 5-10 minutes once you are in an exam room but that is the longest we have waited to date.

chach916 · August 2011

Can you go at a different time? I got to my pedi in the AM and always get in within 15-20 minutes.

Last month, I had to go in the afternoon and I waited for over an hour. The nurse told me for afternoon visits, they always run behind. I'll never go at that time again.

ETA-What irrirates me the most is when the pedi finally does come in and gets annoyed that your toddler is acting up. Maybe if you'd come in on time and not made up wait for so long, then he wouldn't be so crabby!

KJmashup · August 2011

I normally don't wait any longer than 10-15 minutes, but last night, we waited for 1 hour 15 minutes.

I think a lot of it might be that this time of year is very busy for pedis as the older patients come in for school/athletics physicals before the the school year starts.

Rach21 · August 2011

Generally they get us in a room within 5-10 minutes. But I guess in their minds if you are in a room, they're doing a great job with wait time. I've waited in the room without seeing the doctor for an hour. I kept opening the doors because it was stuffy and hot, and the nurses kept closing them because Gideon was getting fussy. Umm... it's his naptime. Get the doc in here, do what he needs to do, and we'll get out of your hair!!!

(It makes it worse, to me, because I'm always 10-15 minutes EARLY everywhere I go. I panic if I arrive "on time" for an appt)

Kara5109 · August 2011

That is unacceptable! We only wait maybe 15 minutes at the most, but Army doctors are fast because they don't really care.

abs05 · August 2011

For well visits I never wait. I always schedule them for first thing in the morning of first thing after lunch so there is never anyone ahead of me.

For emergency visits I usually end up waiting 15-20 minutes. An hour seems CRAZY to me. I do think that is a very busy time of the year though with school getting ready to go back into session.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · August 2011

If it's near the end of the day, like a 4:30 appointment, we've actually had to reschedule due to the Dr. being so far behind. Usually the earlier the appointment the quicker the service.

SnoopyLuv · August 2011

We routinely wait 30-45 min but I'm ok with that. My doctor is very, very thorough and personable. I can hear her with the other patients asking great questions and probing for questions. I don't mind so much. I know to expect to be there that long.

If I had two kids with me though, that would be a little different.

detokiet · August 2011

We don't wait long at all. My pediatrician and OB are in the same clinic/office. (Obv. different people). the only time I had to wait at that clinic was when I had heavy bleeding with my first pregnancy (which was a miscarriage). And that was because the nurse didn't actually put an appointment in, just said "come as soon as you can".

sillypit · August 2011

That's completely unacceptable, I think the longest we've ever waited is 30 minutes?

wonkatalia · August 2011

Ivana.Stolichnaya:
If it's near the end of the day, like a 4:30 appointment, we've actually had to reschedule due to the Dr. being so far behind. Usually the earlier the appointment the quicker the service.

Yep, this. I've had to wait up to an hour and a half before for an end of the day appt. Usually it's more like 20 minutes or so.

cndmexbaby · August 2011

Kaiser is very organized. I check in at the desk and usually get called in right after I sit down. The doctor usually comes in after about 10 minutes. Once I had to wait awhile but we were fit in last minute. I have no complains. Over an hour? I would never go back. I waited that long for my OB but not for my pedi!

BeachM · August 2011

I've waited as long as 30 minutes, but there was a reason and we kept getting apologies from the receptionist. I'd be so irritated about waiting over an hour with my crankypants.

MrsG NC · August 2011

We have never waited more than 20 min and the norm is usually about 10 min. I would freak out if we had to wait more than an hour. What a freaking nightmare.

Ananke · August 2011

We usually have a fairly long wait - 15 - 20 minutes on average. But,I absolutely love my pedi, and it's totally worth it. The wait is shorter in the mornings (I try to get the first appointment if possible), and worst after hours. Last week we brought DS in at 5:45 for a sick visit, and we waited about 10 minutes in the waiting room, then about 30 in the patient room. The doctor or NP always apologizes though for the long wait. If I didn't like my pedi, I'd find someone with a smaller clientele, but like I said, I don't think I could find a better pedi, so I wait. To be fair, I've been 10 or 15 minutes late too on occasion (I call to let them know), and they still let me keep my appointment without giving me a hard time at all, so it goes both ways.

avy930 · August 2011

We usually get to a room in 10 minutes or so and then maybe another 10-15 before the Dr comes in. I think it's reasonable and I LOVE my pedi!

J+MS · August 2011

Kara5109:
That is unacceptable! We only wait maybe 15 minutes at the most, but Army doctors are fast because they don't really care.

What she said.

but even when we were off base, We never waited very long. We always went in the AM.

emilydholmes1 · August 2011

If it is a well visit, we usually wait less than 5 minutes. Sick visit we might wait 15 minutes in the waiting room and another 10 or so in the room waiting for the doctor but never over 30 minutes or so. They definitely made you wait too long.

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