Yesterday I walked into a patient's room and she was talking on her cell phone. I told her that I would come back later but she waved at me to indicate that she was almost done.
So I waited
and I waited
I don't want to tell you how long I waited but by the end when she finally got off the phone I was pretty pissed off.
So how long is a reasonable amount of time to wait for patient to get off their goddamn cell phone?
So so rude! I don't wait, I head for the door, tell them I'll be back. They hang up in a hurry!
ReplyDeleteThe answer is that you shouldn't even have to wait one second, because she shouldn't have been on the phone in the first place. That being said, my endocrinologist once made me wait over 5 minutes while she took a call from her college-age daughter on her cell phone. It was very clear from the parts of the conversation I could hear that the discussion was about mundane stuff, not an emergency. I say this only because people tend to assume that it is just the patients who take calls during medical appointments, and that's not at all true.
ReplyDeleteIt was actually an inpatient so I don't blame her for being on the phone when I came in.
DeleteIn that case, I agree with Anon. 5:49 am below.
DeleteExactly...and if inpatient, include the doctor, the PA, the NP, the nurse, whomever. Often patients act as if they are the ONLY one you will have to see all day when in reality you could be juggling several consults or patients. Frustrating, because these are the same patients who don't want to ambulated or do therapy when you ask them, finally get motivated to do it RIGHT during shift change (when it's pretty much impossible) then get pissed because you didn't do it right when they wanted to. Hang up the damn phone and be present for your doctor, PA, NP, nurse when they're there!
DeleteThe amount of time it takes for them to say "the doctor's here to see me, I'll call you back".
ReplyDeleteAnon 5:49 am said exactly what I was going to say. That long and not one second longer.
ReplyDeleteWhat Anon. 5:49 said. I work in out patient and this is a huge pet peeve of mine....everyone is on the damn phone.
ReplyDeleteI would have just left and came back when I got around to it. I do not do well with those with phones attached to their ears. If you want to deal with me, hang it up or adios. It's the same as call waiting, when they ask me to hold I wait 10 seconds and hang up. They can call back instead of wasting my time.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with the above. We expect docs to be on time, etc. then I would expect patients to also. That being said, post signs about no cell phone usage or your appointment will be rescheduled or moved.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with Anon at 5:49!
ReplyDeleteIf the patient doesn't immediately say "the doc is here I'll have to call you back" I leave the room and come back later.
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ReplyDeleteIn the hospital? 30 seconds tops. In a clinic exam room? 1 second tops.
ReplyDeleteOutpatient setting: 5 seconds. Inpatient: 15-20 seconds.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Anon 5:49. If its anything more, I've walked out on inpatients many times. With outpatients, they usually do hang up immediately.
ReplyDelete