Leaving before being.seen

Hey

Has anyone ever waited so long to be seen that they have actually left before the examiner arrived?

The time. I remember was when I was much younger and was in for a mid afternoon appt. Stripped to.briefs I waited... and waited.

I slipped my pants on and asked the nurses who couldn't or wouldn't explain.

I left bcuz I had to.grab kids.from.daycare. Yes it was that late.

No I haven't left before being seen. But I have left immediately after the initial discussion of my reasons for the visit. During the discussion the doctor was rude, condescending, and totally unprofessional to the point of storming out of the room when I asked a question or two. I then left the room and told the nurse why I was leaving and would not be returning. I also called the doctor who had referred me and told him of what had happened.

I walked out once due to an extensive waiting period. After reading this, I am sure my actions would be considered justified.

After a succesful day of skiing a few years ago I was on my way back to the lodge to return the rented gear (boots, poles etc). As luck would have I dropped a ski boot on my foot and broke a toe. At first I shrugged off the pain and tried to get on with life. The swelling seemed to be getting worse, the toe was crooked and I was gobbling Ibuprofens and Tylenol PM's like they were Pez. Off to my doctor I went.

I was handled in the usual good and caring manner I was accustomed to by my doctor. I was referred to the orthopedic department, who took me immediately.

After the initial assessment/examination the doctor advised me the best course of action was to reset the bone. They anesthetitize the affected area and break the bone again. I went that particular hell with a broken hand many years ago. I knew what was coming. They kept me waiting. The anxiety became rather overwhelming. I was nervous as a Jehovah's Witness with a severed artery.

20 plus minutes passed when the PA returned to prepare me for the mafia treatment. She took my bp and it was quite high due to the anxiety over the anticipation. The PA stated I would have to wait for my bp to lower. I got up from the table, winced in some discomfort put my shoe and sock back on and walked out. To this day that toe is as crooked as Nixon but I am not in pain and can walk on it flawlessly. So the hell with it, I am done.

I remember once quite awhile back when I was waiting for a doctor for a very long time. I ask the nurse how much longer she thought it would be owing to the fact that I'd been waiting for over two hours. Being a professional in marketing at that time, I became quite annoyed that I'd shown the doctor due respect but because of my appropriateness, was missing important appointments with my clients.

I finally got up and left without telling anyone. Upon resetting the appointment I was informed that the doctor had been called to an emergency prior to my original appointment. Telling the doctor that I thought I should have been informed about this, I promptly left his office never to return.

Yes, and very recently. I made an appointment, I arrived early and on time, waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes, then taken through pointlessly weighed, and blood pressure, then placed in a room, I gave up after 50 minutes, I walked out went to the desk where you settle up and stated, "sorry, you're out of time" I asked them to credit my co-pay, appalling state of affairs these days.

In all fairness, the doctor's office is often a very busy place. I do expect that if appointments are not met on time that I will be informed of the delay and not left in the exam room naked and wondering when will this be over! That has happened but not to the point where I would leave only to have to reschedule or find another doc. Most often a delay is met with an apology and the exam conducted, which then has me thinking, "Oh dear, I am not ready for all of this!"

This happened to me once. I was working out of town and during the week had acquired a sore throat. My Doctors office at the time accepted walkins on Saturday mornings, so I got up early and presented myself and was told to take a seat and wait. After about 3 hours the waiting room had filled up and emptied out 3 times and I and one other patient were left, and they had came in after me. When the next name was called it was for the other patient, and that is when I lost my patience and let them know that even though I wasn't feeling well they had wasted enough of my time and I left. I came very close to changing Clinics that day but ended up giving them one more chance and they never disappointed like that again.

Many years ago there sign posted in the clinic we went to that said, a doctors schedule can get behind for nancy reasons, someday you may be that reason. Thus was at axclinic with MDs that treated everything and were responsible for hospitalized patients as well. This day in age, I expect the MD to be on time within reason. He only practices in the office, no hospital call or emergencies. He is pretty much right on time.

In response to Julie, I agree totally.

Another time, at a large group, with multiple offices, I was running over an hour behind and had been back in the exam area for quite a bit. I went to the station, and was told that my doctor had been called to an emergency, since she was chief. I gladly waited, once I knew the reason. I only wish that I had been told instead of having to ask.

I went to my primary care physician for an annual exam. As requested during the appointment reminder call, I showed up 15 minutes before my appointment in case I needed to update my information (which turned out unnecessary). I was called back by the nurse about 15 minutes past my appointment time. After the nurse did my basic information and vitals, I got undressed and put on the exam gown and sat on the exam table waiting for the Doctor to come into the room. I sat waiting on the exam table naked under my exam gown for 45 minutes. I became annoyed and I finally said screw this shit of being there for 1 ½ hours and got dressed. As I exited the exam room and was heading down the hallway to leave, my doctor was walking down the hall towards me and said “I was just coming to see you”. I told her “I was on time for our appointment and I’ve been here for 1 ½ hours WAITING TO SEE YOU. Now I’m going to miss an appointment with one of my clients. You can have someone call me if you want to schedule an appointment with me”. I then walked out of the office. By the time I got to my office her nurse was calling to apologize profusely and reschedule another appointment. Since that instance my doctor has always seen me in a timely manner.

I understand waits happen. I get that every patient is different and requires different attention. However I will not wait more than 1 hour. I will always leave once I am an hour into the wait and still no doctor. My time is just as important as theirs and if I would be an hour late without notification, I would lose my appointment and likely still get billed.

I've left a doctor's office after waiting too long, but I was still in the waiting room or maybe in an exam room, but still dressed. Hugely frustrating.

Also had a case where I was stuck in the waiting room for an endodontist for a root canal. He was late getting back from his other office. I ended up having to rebook, which meant I had to get all nervous all over again. (It was my first - and only - root canal and I was terrified...it wasn't actually as bad as I had feared). Dental is definitely not in my fetish interests. Nor is wait time. :-)

When sent by my flight surgeon to the Civil Aviation Authority medical centre, the doctor there kept me waiting for over an hour. In response to my irritation he commented about type A and type B personalities, saying that I was the type who got ulcers. My reply was, "And you are the type who gives them!"