Waiting...waiting...waiting

So there is the situation:  I had an appointment at a healthcare provider scheduled for last Monday.  A few days beforehand they called me to reschedule.  Fine, so I rescheduled for the following Monday (yesterday).  The appointment time was on the early side...3:45pm...so I had to engineer my schedule accordingly.

Fair enough.

So my day is completely turned on its head:  I had to come in extra early, hit the gym before hitting the office, worked through lunch, and finally dropping everything I was doing so that I could leave by 3:30.  I think I was on the phone up until 3:29.

I arrived at the healthcare provider's office at 3:46pm.  One minute late, but I didn't think they minded.  Pulling into the parking lot I spied more than a few cars, but it didn't immediately cause me any concern.  Going up to the receptionist I promptly set signed in and proceeded to read the miscellaneous magazines spread out for all to read.  Good to hear that some Kardashian is having fun with some rapper.  Check.

And I waited.  And waited.  And waited.

I did see the doctor come out to talk to one of the patients in the waiting room.  Small talk it seemed.  I think they knew each other.  The visit seemed to last about 15 minutes.

And I continued to wait.

I'm not sure why I didn't say anything...probably just too disgusted...but finally, 45 minutes after signing in, I get the preliminary check-in and then sent back to the examination room.

And I waited.  And waited some more.

25 minutes later, the doctor comes through the door and apologizes for the wait.  Funny thing is that I don't think she realized just how long I had been waiting.  I needed to talk to the doctor about a particular problem I am having, so I didn't feel like alienating anyone.  I didn't want any distractions from solving this problem, so I just kept stewing.

The exam proceeded, and about 25 minutes or so later I am out the door.  All told, I completely re-arranged my day in order to convenience this particular provider.  I waited 70 minutes for about 25 minutes of actual healthcare.  I was also none too happy.  No, I was disgusted.

I have do some unfinished business with this particular provider, but after that's finished I think I will be taking this business somewhere else.   The sad part?  Professionally, this particular doctor is pretty good at what she does.  I really am impressed with the care I receive.  I can't, however, easily accept how disrespectful her practice was to me.  Had someone come out and said to me "Mr Albert, we are really sorry about the wait..." I would have been fine.  Had the doctor not come out to talk to her friend in the waiting room maybe she would have seen me 15 minutes sooner.  Had I known that I could arrive at 4:30 for a 3:45 appointment I would have been far more accepting.  Regardless, I don't think there will be a next time.