The Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom for January 14, 2025

Who said anything about fixing the problem?

I hate when I go to the Dr, you wait awhile then they take you to a room where you wait and wait and not even a picture on the wall…nothing, you’re in solitary confinement and you are about to go wacko and the Dr suddenly appears and he/she asks why your blood pressure seems high

There is a Hospital in Wenatchee, WA that has a clock in the nurses area that has most of the numbers on it scattered along the bottom of the clock with only a few remaining on the clockitself . . . Around there, time has no meaning ! When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it…

And no old magazines on the table to read.

He’s probably been waiting about an hour already, if his waiting time includes the fact that, like many of us, he was instructed to arrive at least 30 minutes before the time of the appointment.

I bring my solitaire game, iPad mini

so tired…tired of waiting…

I can think of at least one reason for long waits at Doctors offices. Over scheduling patients. I had just moved to San Antonio(2000) there was a large multi MD practice not far from where I lived. Made an appointment, saw MD for 3-4 minutes, then he left and a while later nurse came in, gave me some paperwork to fill out, and left. 45 min later MD stopped back in the office and asked me what I needed, told him about my maintenance meds and requested some Rx[2-3 min]and he left. About 20 min later nurse brought in the Rx and told me to wait for MD[about 90 seconds]and left. MD stopped back about 20 min later and asked if I had any other problems, I said no and he left[1 min]and I left. As it was the first visit I had expected it to take awhile, but my next appointment took almost 3 hours. I discovered they booked appointments every 10 min. and the MD talked fast. Wife and I found another MD shortly after and kept him until we moved to Oklahoma 17 years later. He did not overschedule appointments, rather he saw only 3 patients per hour. When I had my heart attack I went to a free standing emergency[Urgent care]hospital, they checked me in and kept me for about 6 hours, then an ambulance ride to the main hospital at 3am where I was greatly surprised to see my family MD waiting for me. Then one day for MRI, surgery on the second day then one day of rest, then home, with an appointment to see a cardiologist[different group practice]and family MD in a week.

I play Solitaire while I’m waiting for the doctor.

Ah, empathy. I feel your pain B.

Who hasn’t?

As a physician, I was almost always on time because I didn’t overbook and always left two openings unfilled for patient semi-emergencies.

Unfortunately, most medical practices are owned by corporations and “productivity” generates those corporate profits. By productivity, they mean seeing as many patients as possible.

If there are twenty patients scheduled each hour, you are going to be running late or you will be practicing sub-optimal medicine. Most likely both.

That sign is a good conversation starter huh Brutus ?

Play was extra slow at the country club.

why would she need to wait for the doc, isn’t she suppose to check them in… or is she a patient herself? My brain isn’t working now. :/

Service isn’t what it used to be that’s all you can say. He is most definitely not alone, sadly…..

Maybe Brutus can give the receptionist an official Born Loser certificate.

I can hear Brutus now…, “No lady, welcome to MY club!”

Put your hat back on Brutus it’s gonna be awhile. Why do you think they call us patients/ patience when at a Doctors office ?

45 minutes in the lobby, another half hour in the procedure room before the doc waltzes in to see you for 3 minutes and spends all his/her time on a laptop. I usually get all my GoComics ready and NYT puzzles done. We seem to have a theme this week – with this and his 8 hour flight delay, my guess is Brutus had been praying for patience and this was the answer!

20 minutes is just Doc’s coffee/Donut break time. Now he’s got to hit on that hot trainee Nurse during her practicals. Another 30 minutes, you are taken to back for Triage. Then to a waiting room for Doc to appear an hour later. 5 minutes with Doc and check out. Over 2 hours for 5 minutes with Doc. And 1500 dollars billed to your insurance along with your 40 dollar co pay. Electricians and Plumbers are in a rapid rise to catch pay of Doctors. Heavens to Murgatroyd.

I thought she would have said thanks for letting us know

And there you have it………….

Not even any sympathy.

Sometimes a doctor will find me in an exam room with the lights out, the curtains drawn, and the hood on my jacket pulled up over my face, at least enough to cover my eyes. I will hear them hesitate at the door, then quietly ask, “Migraine?” I just say yes, but I want to say I didn’t have one when I got here, I got it from all the noise in your office since I have been sitting here for 45 minutes. Usually they are a bit more kind when they see me like that. No, I don’t fake it.

My dermatologist has a real thing about being late. I tease him about it. It’s not uncommon that I check in, then go to sit down and before I am settled I am called back. Once I “complained” that he made me wait 3 minutes. He looked devastated and asked if there was anything else he could fix for me that day. He is a rare breed, but dermatology is rather low on unexpected emergencies. This is my new dermatologist, not the former one who was interested in my books. Sometimes I still see the book reading one, though. They are both excellent doctors.

For most of the appointments I’ve had in the past year (and I’ve had plenty), the wait time to see the provider has been pretty reasonable (even including the extended time when you’re put into the exam room and someone takes your vitals, then you have to wait some more).

Guess I’m just a very patient patient.

I remember years ago whenever I took my mom to her doctor’s appointment and she would wait at least 30 minutes before she’s taken to a room and maybe another 20 before the doctor actually walked in.

Pure “professional” attitude.

Do I at least get a discount?

I’m guessing the doctor might benefit from taking at least one more doctor into the practice.