Why do doctors appointments run late?

There are many legitimate reasons doctors run late, including patients who themselves are late or who may divulge during a routine appointment that they’re having chest pains. Moreover, 15-minute slots are utilized too frequently, often not providing the physician sufficient time.

What happens if late to doctors appointment?

If you are an established patient and you arrive 15 minutes late or more to your appointment you will likely be asked to reschedule unless the physician’s schedule can still accommodate you. Priority will be given to the patients who arrive on time and you may have to be worked in between them.

Why is the wait at the doctor’s so long?

The more people that doctors have to see in a short period, the more likely they are to get behind schedule. Some patients need more attention, making their appointments take longer. So when practice staff accidentally over schedules, it doesn’t allow enough time to attend to these patients.

Do you ever ask patients to reschedule their appointments?

Yes, I realize you may have airline tickets to come into town to stay with family here while recovering. Over the past 20 years, there have been very few times I have asked patients to reschedule. Even though I tell patients they have nothing to apologize for when they then to cancel, I always apologize.

Can my doctor Stop Me from cancelling my appointment?

If it is really unavoidable, your doctor cannot stop you from cancelling your appointment. However, if you have time to continue the treatment, it is a much better option to reschedule appointments rather than cancel them.

Can I cancel my follow up check up appointment?

If the doctor or dentist is still in the process of administering treatment, follow-up check ups are meant to let the doctor or dentist continue the treatment needed by the patient or treatment technique. Doing a cancel appointment in this case is not a good decision.

Why is it always so late to see a doctor?

The time of year also influences how late your doctor may run, with the cold-and-flu seasons of fall and winter being busier times than summer months. Most doctors’ offices do have mechanisms in place to deal with these unforeseen circumstances. But even with preparation, there will be days that we run behind.