Granted, I'm one of those people that hates to be late. On the rare occasion I am running late, I call. I work in a doctors office and you'd be amazed at how many people waltz in when they want (i.e. 5, 15, 30, 40 minutes late) with no apology or excuse. About 80% of our patients are late and consequentially make everyone else wait to be seen. Any ideas on how to make this behavior stop happening? Keep in mind that when we instituted a "no-show" of fee of $25 some of our clients got physically violent after being charged.

4/21/2008 2:15:24 PM

free food for being on time

4/21/2008 2:16:18 PM

9 minutes late is "ben time"

4/21/2008 2:16:24 PM

get really shitty magazines and hire 2 bums to creep up your waiting room

4/21/2008 2:16:39 PM

you can't force assholes to be courteous...

it's a part of life

4/21/2008 2:17:01 PM

physically violent for being charged a late fee when they were late? Taser them!

4/21/2008 2:17:40 PM

maybe 80% of the people are now late because they constantly see that you guys are running late

like a horrible cycle

[Edited on April 21, 2008 at 2:19 PM. Reason : and going back to that $25 doesn't sound like a bad idea]

4/21/2008 2:18:42 PM

If they've been late once, schedule their real appointment for X number of minutes after the time you tell them you've scheduled it for. So if they really are on time, they'll know what it's like to have to wait, and if not, then they won't even notice.

4/21/2008 2:19:06 PM

What about when I show up on time and the doctor makes me wait--for a long time? Is my time and that of other patients not valuable, too?

4/21/2008 2:19:16 PM

Make them sign an agreement that lateness will be cause for a mandatory rectal exam.

4/21/2008 2:20:28 PM

I was literally 3 hours late to work today

4/21/2008 2:21:04 PM

if they don't show up ontime, then make them re-schedule for later.

easy.

4/21/2008 2:21:33 PM

I was figuratively late for work yesterday.

4/21/2008 2:21:55 PM

^5Inorite...the reason they show up late is b/c if you make an appointment for 2:30, its a fact that you will not be seen until at least 3:00...so why show up on time? just so you can wait even longer

[Edited on April 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM. Reason : 5]

4/21/2008 2:22:09 PM

make them reschedule if they're more than 15 minutes late, dur

4/21/2008 2:23:49 PM

I want to hear a story about one of the ones who became belligerent.

4/21/2008 2:24:48 PM

i have a friend that is always, notoriously 2 hours late

she is supposed to meet me in 5 minutes

i can only imagine how late she will be today

4/21/2008 2:26:07 PM

Instead of penalties for being late, how about incentives for being early? Like five or ten dollars off the bill?

I mean, if the tardiness and absences are really such an efficiency and effectiveness problem, your office should be money ahead. Unless, as I suspect, it's really more of an inconvenience to the staff.

4/21/2008 2:27:34 PM

^why should you get incentives for doing what you said you'd do??!?

4/21/2008 3:08:59 PM

Quote :

"free food for being on time"

4/21/2008 3:13:18 PM

Well, yes and no. Our doctor is a pushover, so even if someone is 30 minutes late all they have to do is cry and whine and they usually end up being seen. This pisses off all the staff. And as for the people who complain that they have to wait, I feel you. But please understand that there are three main reasons why you wait, and not one involves the Dr. twidling his/her thumbs.
1. People who arrive late. They make everyone else have to wait.
2. People who say they need to be seen for a cough but REALLY want to discuss their depression, herpes, blood pressure, and asthma. Come on, of course talking about 4 complicated issues is gonna take longer than some meds for a cough.
3. People who come in for cough/ect and have a medical emergency which requires immediate care. If you came in feeling tired and the Dr. notices an infectious cut that has seeped into your blood stream, wouldn't you like the Dr. to take extra time to set you up for IMMEDIATE specialty care?

4/21/2008 3:13:32 PM

what's the advantage of coming in on time? the doctor isnt gonna see you on time anyways.

4/21/2008 3:16:44 PM

so the girl i was supposed to met at 2:30 and said she would be there in 10 minutes

1 hour, not bad for her

4/21/2008 3:18:27 PM

If the entire staff gets pissed at the doctor, maybe you should call a staff meeting as discuss what to do with late people, or you should schedule less people during the day so that every patient gets enough time with a doctor.

4/21/2008 3:26:20 PM

yea stop tryin to schedule 8 patients per hour

4/21/2008 3:35:24 PM

Solution is simple. Tell clients that if they miss their appointment when their name is called then they don't get their appointment.

4/21/2008 3:44:31 PM

Quote :

"so the girl i was supposed to met at 2:30 and said she would be there in 10 minutes 1 hour, not bad for her "

You should stop encouraging her behavior. By waiting 2 hours for her you're in essence telling her it's ok to be that irresponsible. If you have self-respect then you look at it at the other person not taking consideration of YOUR time's value, so you're degrading yourself by waiting

4/21/2008 3:45:06 PM

Quote :

"a "no-show" of fee of $25"

is that even if they call? if so, thats pretty shitty

4/21/2008 3:45:11 PM

Quote :

"If they've been late once, schedule their real appointment for X number of minutes after the time you tell them you've scheduled it for. So if they really are on time, they'll know what it's like to have to wait, and if not, then they won't even notice."

that's what I would do


but

Quote :

"What about when I show up on time and the doctor makes me wait--for a long time? Is my time and that of other patients not valuable, too?"

Quote :

"the reason they show up late is b/c if you make an appointment for 2:30, its a fact that you will not be seen until at least 3:00...so why show up on time? just so you can wait even longer"

Quote :

"what's the advantage of coming in on time? the doctor isnt gonna see you on time anyways."

is a VERY good point


if doctors want patients to show up at a scheduled time, then THE DOCTOR needs to meet the SAME DEADLINE

if unpredictable patient behavior makes this difficult then

Quote :

"you should schedule less people during the day so that every patient gets enough time with a doctor."

(^4)
or say, "I'm sorry, but our time is up" to patients with more questions than they led on to have

do shrinks let patients sit and ask questions after their hour while other on-time patients wait? I don't think so.

I'm sorry, but fuck doctors and their acting like their time is worth more than their patients' time (even if it is)


this is what you do:

the number of minutes late that the patient shows up (after the appointment time)

minus

the number of minutes the patient sits in the waiting room, (starting from the appointment time)

times $5.00

added (even if the product is negative,) to the bill

4/21/2008 3:47:30 PM

[OBAMA]WE HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT IS BROKEN

DURKA DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR[/OBAMA]

4/21/2008 3:48:47 PM

"i don't FEEL tardy..." classic

4/21/2008 3:48:56 PM

Quote :

"About 80% of our patients are late and consequentially make everyone else wait to be seen."

About 80% of statistics are made up on the spot.


Wait...if 80% of them are late then wouldn't only 20% of the patients be affected by the others' tardiness?

4/21/2008 3:51:03 PM

"I think the clock is sloowww"

but yeah I think unless they call and say they are on their way, then after like 15 mins cancel their appt.

4/21/2008 3:54:00 PM

When someone scheduled for a 2 pm appt shows up at 2:25 and the person who is scheduled for a 2:30 appt shows up 5 minutes late, they STILL have to wait. And for reference, I work in a doctors office where we schedule VERY long time periods. Most doctors spend an average of 20-30 minutes on a physical. We allot 1 hour. A 10 minute pap at other places is a 30 minute pap here. Our doctors see an average of 14-16 patients per 8 hour day. And the reason you have to wait is usually NOT the doctors fault. I just wish people could not be idiots.

Examples of REAL phone questions I've recieved:
"What time should I be there for my 2 pm appt? Noon?"
"OMG I've been sitting for hours and I just got up and my leg is all tingly and hurts. Should I call an ambulance?"
"I'm not paying that bill. I specifically asked for the free physical!!"

4/21/2008 3:59:29 PM

oops...

I find it to be extremely difficult- somehow 15 minutes left turns into 2 really fast
/shrug

4/21/2008 4:02:07 PM

That is awful.

I'm glad I don't work in an environment depending on other people being on time, because tardiness is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I know I couldn't handle that

4/21/2008 4:02:09 PM

I am always late for everything... it is expected of me now by friends and family

And I deal with executives all day who are an hour late or just never show up for meetings... seems like I am right on track for being a great CEO

4/21/2008 4:03:40 PM

I can completely understand that life happens and sometimes you just can't help but be late. But perpetually being late and proud of it? Shows a lack of respect for other people IMO

4/21/2008 4:05:57 PM

its one thing to be late, its another to not call and let someone know.

4/21/2008 4:08:08 PM

Quote :

""I'm not paying that bill. I specifically asked for the free physical!!""

that confuses me

4/21/2008 4:14:19 PM

If someone really is a no show (as in they don't show up for their appt), I'd give them 2-3 chances and then drop them altogether.

4/21/2008 4:20:12 PM

fuck doctors offices. When you show up on time or early, you still sit there for hours waiting for your turn.


not to mention when you finally do get called, its just so they can put you in another room and wait forever there too.

[Edited on April 21, 2008 at 4:24 PM. Reason : .]

4/21/2008 4:23:13 PM

Quote :

"If someone really is a no show (as in they don't show up for their appt), I'd give them 2-3 chances and then drop them altogether."

That's what most clinics do.

Quote :

"Our doctors see an average of 14-16 patients per 8 hour day."

wow, really?

that's insanely low

4/21/2008 4:23:18 PM

People don't have any respect for authority any more. I mean its the fucking doctor...someone there to check on their well-being and they are too selfish to call and say they can't make it or they are running late.

4/21/2008 4:36:20 PM

women are all the time taking for ever man, shit is annoying

4/21/2008 4:38:11 PM

We usually drop them after the 3rd no-show. But by then, they may have wasted up to 3 hours of appointments that COULD have been filled, and that can cost us thousands of $$.

Quote :

"Quote : ""I'm not paying that bill. I specifically asked for the free physical!!"" that confuses me "

Some people have "free" wellness visits on their insurance, which means that they don't pay co-pays for physicals. It's WAY too much work to check every single persons insurance plans, so we take their word for it at the time of visit whether they have a free CPE or not. Problem is, alot of people WANT a free CPE so they say their insurance allows it, but when we bill to insurance we find out that's not true and we have to charge them a co-pay anyway. Most people buckle up and pay except for this one crazy woman who apparently would prefer going to collections than paying $20.

4/21/2008 4:38:45 PM

My dad has a sign at his office that tells you about the late fee...so it's a no brainer, but getting violent, that's just stupid!

But I think usually if you aren't there within a certain amount of time and you show, you have to reschedule.

But of course that's with some doctors.

4/21/2008 4:41:12 PM

Doctors screw patients out of money everyday. SO what if I am fucking late. Doctors are still making in excess of $50 for my appointment and there will always be patients in the waiting room before and after me even if I am an hour late. Furthermore if it is a doctor that has earned my respect, I get there on time. If they have dicked me over as most have... I make it a POINT to be late.

4/21/2008 4:52:17 PM

these health problems are not weight related btw are they?

4/21/2008 4:52:56 PM

We have the standard "15 minutes late" equals rechedule sign up front but people don't seem to care. They get beligerant when asked to rechedule. "What the hell do you mean I can't be seen?! I came all the way here for NOTHING!!? I can't help it if I couldn't find the place/got stuck in traffic/had a long lunch". There seems to be an excuse for everything

The best "incident" I ever had was when a patient (middle eastern man, mind you) showed up over an hour early. We both joked about the fact that he was so early and he decided to sit and wait. About 30 minutes into waiting he started getting angry and came up to ask why "everyone else" was being seen before him. I tried explaining that he was early, and we were taking patients by appointment time, not arrival time. I guess he didn't get it, because he swore at me, then lunged through the open glass window to grab his chart. I closed it on him, and he continued to come at me. He caused such a commotion with screaming and yelling that everyone heard. The Dr. came out and tried to explain to him why it wasn't fair to take him before a regularly scheduled patient. I believe he called her a bitch and walked away. Havn't heard from him again.

4/21/2008 4:54:40 PM