Many patients question why they have to wait so long to see their doctor. Jessica Tomlinson here at Prairie Spine goes over the basic reasoning for long wait times. Read the article below for more information and see what you can do to ensure you’re seen in a timely manner. If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment please contact us at 309-691-7774.
Waiting at the doctor’s office can be frustrating, but it may not be for the reasons you think. Here are a few reasons why you may be waiting to be seen by our physician, and what role you can play in preventing it.
- Patients arriving late. When a patient arrives late it can through the rest of the clinic off schedule. The later you check in, the later you are roomed, and the later you see the physician. You can help avoid this by arriving early
- Unprepared patients. When patients arrive unprepared it can almost be the same as being late. Ways you can prepare yourself for your appointment are making sure you bring all instructed information with you (insurance cards, id, etc.), making sure your paperwork is completed ahead of time, and by bringing a list of questions you intend on asking your physician. Stopping clinical staff to ask questions after your appointment prevents them from taking care of the next patient.
- Complex diagnosis. From time to time our physician will encounter a patient that has a more complex diagnosis. When this happens the physician may require more time than anticipated due to additional questions and explanation regarding treatment. Rest assure, if you are, or ever become one of those patients, our physician will take the extra time with you as well.
