Nothing new. Just another example of an out of control industry that puts the emphasis on money instead of healing patients.

This has been going on for years.

Dentists do this too.

Why should they mind?--the doctors are always overbooked and an half hour behind the schedule.

"Why should they mind?--the doctors are always overbooked and an half hour behind the schedule."

And yet... If a doctor had an appointment with, say, a lawyer, and said lawyer was even just a few minutes late, this hypothetical doctor would be livid.

Murphy, I think more people should walk out of appointments where the doctor is 30 or more minutes behind... without an explanation.

We're people, too. Even without an "MD" behind our name.

I've never been charged the rare times I had to cancel, but I've seen doctor and dentist offices with signs saying they will charge if not given a 24 hour cancellation notice. Especially dentists, who book and set aside the accurate amount of time they estimate is needed for each type of appointment.

" I think more people should walk out of appointments where the doctor is 30 or more minutes behind... without an explanation.
We're people, too. Even without an "MD" behind our name."

I agree, but the issue here isn't the amount of waiting time in the doctor's office, it's medical clients who don't show and don't call.

As someone who -- at times-- has to schedule down to a gnat's ass, I can relate to the frustration.

If we had a government option they would charge us all for appointments we never scheduled and then throw us in jail for eating too much fat.

Is this really news?

It's a pretty common practice. Can't say I don't blame them.

think more people should walk out of appointments where the doctor is 30 or more minutes behind... without an explanation.

No I left my GP after I waited almost an hour to be seen. If I did not need a script refilled I would have left earlier. I found another doctor and called to tell them exactly why I left the practice. That is the only way they are going to improve.

Now I have been told by a doctor once after they had to wait to see me five minutes while I was on a phone call that "their time is important" to which I replied, mine is too, why do I have to wait past my appointment time when I go to the doctor? No answer for that one.

Can't say I don't blame them.

I do. They are not in the business of taking appointments, they are in the business of treating patients. If the patient does not show, they have not performed the services necessary to earn their fee.

I do. They are not in the business of taking appointments, they are in the business of treating patients. If the patient does not show, they have not performed the services necessary to earn their fee.

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They are in the business of seeing patients. The patient is the one making the appointment not the doctor. There are many patients who make an appointment because they are sick only to feel better by the time of their appointment so they don't show up. In essence, the patient is reserving the doctor's time when making an appointment. It also affects other patients because that particular time slot is reserved for a no-show.

So, are any of them going to give a rebate when they keep you waiting while they see pharmaceutical salesmen?

That happened to me once - a wait of over an hour and fifteen minutes. I finally put my clothes back on and went up front and told the receptionist that I was leaving and wouldn't be back.

She had the nerve to tell me that I "couldn't do that." To which I replied "bullshit," and left. They even tried to bill my company insurance for the visit; something that never got paid, since I'd told our HR people about what had happened. The insurance company dropped Dr. Feelnothing from its list of "preferred providers," since his claim was basically fraudulent. He had rendered no services - through no fault of mine - and was billing anyway.

Asshole.

As the lady in the video says, the best way to deal with a doctor charging you for services not performed is to simply not pay.

It's actually the easiest solution, too. You take the bill, and put it in the paper shredder. Done, problem solved.

It's actually the easiest solution, too. You take the bill, and put it in the paper shredder. Done, problem solved.

#13 | Posted by DarkVader

Probably the worst possible solution. They can then turn it over to a collection service and you end up having to not only fight the bill, but then have to mess around with getting it off your credit record.

Communication, although frustrating at times, ultimately works a whole lot better.

"why do I have to wait past my appointment time when I go to the doctor? No answer for that one."

A: Because though you allot a certain time for a patient or procedure, sometimes complications or problems cause a visit to run over. We do not live in a 'perfect' world where all runs on schedule/time.

that is what stop-payment is for.

That's exactly right. The reason the Doctors have to overbook is because so many people fail to show up without canceling.

Is this seriously news? Every dentist/psychologist/general practitioner/etc has had a disclaimer warning me I will be billed if I cancel within 24 hours (sometimes even more). Try harder.

Bullshit #17. The doctors overbook because they know they can force people to wait.

An older lady I know told about when she went to her doctor and had to wait too long and just stood up and walked out without saying anything. She got halfway to her car and the doctor came running out his his side door and caught her, begging her to come back. She went inside and waited another 30 minutes then left again without looking back.

More people should walk out, then maybe the damn doctors would wake up.

#12 - Right on.

They are in the business of seeing patients.

Exactly.

Services are not rendered until the patient is seen, not when the appointment is taken.

I wonder if the insurance company would pay for a missed appointment?

So, are any of them going to give a rebate when they keep you waiting while they see pharmaceutical salesmen?

Hell no that cuts into profits.

When I used to manage a dermatology practice, we used to charge as well. We didnt always do it, but if people were asshats about it, damn straight.

You take up a finite number of slots in a practice that depends on those appointments to generate revenue. If you cant make the appointment, call and reschedule. If you don't bother, you're a douchebag and should pay.

Hell I'd be impressed if someone tried to pass a bill requiring payment up front (copay if insured) when making the appointments. People have no problems doing it for ball games, concerts and whatnot and it'd be an incentive to show up or contact to reschedule.

Loh

Exactly.
Services are not rendered until the patient is seen, not when the appointment is taken.
I wonder if the insurance company would pay for a missed appointment?

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Except there's a charge if you don't show up. The time has already been reserved. The insurance company is not billed. It's a charge billed directly to the patient.

Seriously, how hard is it to call and cancel an appointment?

This is done in a lot of businesses. Try booking a hotel room or airline flight, then just decide not to go. Good luck getting that money back.
My doctor and dentist have similar procedures, and as long as I call beforehand with an apology, there's never been a problem, and never been a bill.

My doctor and dentist have similar procedures, and as long as I call beforehand with an apology, there's never been a problem, and never been a bill.

I guess I would agree with that, provided that the doctor would agree that they have the same obligation to make the scheduled appointments on time, or suffer similar consequences. In many cases the client's time is just as valuable as the doctors. I am disturbed just as much for example, by a plumber who claims that they will show up at your house within a certain time frame, and then does not show up within said time frame. If they don't like being stood up, they too should make their appointments. These types of courtesies should extend in both directions, but they often don't.

A really smart doctor would advertise that his patients will be seen on time.

A really smart doctor would advertise that his patients will be seen on time.
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Everyone wants 100% hassle free service and heaven forbid if it costs more than your copay.

The amazingly funny as hell thing, if you all are fuckin cryin a river this deep about something this stupid, wait till the "new and improved" healthcare bullshit comes on line.

Talk about "stop you're crying or I'll give you something to cry about" cliche`.

Loh

that is what stop-payment is for.

#16 | Posted by Shawn

When you come up with an effective stop-bill-collector, you let us know.