Why Does My Doctor Make Me Wait ... and Wait ... and Wait

I value my time. I don’t have any of it to waste. I have two young children, and a full-time job. There is not much “extra” time to go around.

I think that may be what frustrates me the most about going to the doctor. It isn’t the need to go for check-ups, and all the messiness they force, like injections and blood samples, yuck. It isn’t even the cost. It is the time wasting it involves.

Don’t get me wrong. I go. I am pretty good about keeping my yearly appointment. I even make sure the kids and husband get in for theirs. But, when I make the date, I figure on losing the entire day.

The problem ironically is, I love my doctor. As I sit and wait for hours at a time, I guess on some level I figure it is worth it. I am sure you can get quality healthcare without trading a full day in return, but I haven’t found it.

I suppose another portion of my day is wasted because I still drive into the city to see the doctor. I can’t help it. I really think he is great. I’m willing to face the Schuylkill for him, so it must be love.

Why do I think he is so great? For starters, he delivered both of my children. I find it awesome that he is both an OBGYN, and a primary care physician. He provides healthcare for both my children (he’s a pediatrician) and my husband and me, too.

Beyond his versatility, he is flexible. He provides us with his home and cell numbers. He took every one of my insane “pregnant woman panic” phone calls during BOTH pregnancies. He still will make his own squeeze-in sick appointments. Can’t get through the front appointment desk? Don’t worry; just call his cell. He’ll make it work.

I think he has single-handedly saved us millions in co-pays. For one, he’ll see all four of us in a single day for check-ups. For another, having a medic for a husband means that most of the time, we know what the illness is before heading to his office. If we have my usual illness, the dreaded sinus infection, we both know what it is. A fever, plus swollen glands, plus stuffed head, plus sinus pressure, plus dark-colored snot: yep, we have it down. And, he knows we know and he trusts our opinions. Instead of forcing a full-on visit, he calls in the needed prescriptions.

So, today, when I spend nearly an hour driving to his office, an hour parking and checking in, an hour sitting in his waiting room, an hour sitting on the cold clinical bed, and an hour driving home … well, I’ve come to terms with it.

So, who is this miracle doc? There is no way I’m sharing that sacred information. For one, I don’t want him to get into any trouble for being as amazing as he is to us. More importantly, he is busy enough. I don’t think I need more patients to contend with at his office.

I’m mean, I know. But, he is totally worth it.