I went to a new doc this week. My appointment was for 4:15. I was brought into the examining room at 4:25. The nurse took my vitals, and I sat on the examining table for 30 minutes until the doc came in, introduced himself, and, without saying a word about how long I'd been cooling my heels, proceeded with the purpose of the visit. Now I understand how a doctor can end up spending more time than anticipated with a patient and how, by the end of the day, the timing of appointments can fall apart. But what I can't understand is why physicians never feel the need to apologize in this situation. A simple "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting" (a phrase my bank teller manages to say when I've been standing in line for two minutes) would suffice. But it rarely happens in the medical profession. I would be apologizing profusely if I kept someone waiting for me for a half hour, and I'd feel the need to explain why, too. It's basic courtesy, for heaven's sake. But so many physicians seem to think my time is of no value. And most run their practices so that appointments are rarely kept. I think I'd faint dead away if a doctor ever saw me right on time.
I know we have some physicians on the forum. I'd love to hear their defense.
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