Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

I had my first appointment with a new derm yesterday. The office came very highly recommended. The front desk staff was very nice.

My appointment was at 4:00. At 4:30 I asked how long of a wait it would be, as I had to get home to 2 sick kids. They told me I was "next" - so, no help at all. Okay, I sat back down.

At 4:35, the nurse took me to a room and took down a little bit of info. I waited another 10-15 minutes for the PA to show up. She introduced herself, and that was it. No apology for the wait, nothing. I told her why I was there (very short, simple visit) and while the nurse was writing the script I asked the PA if this wait time was typical of their office so I would know for future scheduling. She told me "it depends - this is a dermatologists office so we never know how long appointments will take." That was it. Again, no apology.

Now I realize that 45-50 minutes isn't a HUGE deal but to me it is, because I am away from the house 10 hours a day as it is and I was the ONLY person in the waiting room for like 20 minutes before they called me.

Plus, I realize I know nothing about dermatology but (a) how many dermatological emergencies could there be and (b) if you work in a derm's office you should have a GENERAL idea of how long most appoinments take.

I think it would have been better if she had ackowledged the long wait time - or even apologized AFTER I brought it up - but as it stands I don't think I'll be going back there. I know I am overreacting a little but I really just got a bad vibe from this PA and it turned me off to the whole place.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

The wait wouldn't bug me if I had seen the actually Dr. I think to wait to see a PA is ridiculous. I would give them one more chance to see how it goes. It also probably didn't help that the kids were sick. It may have irritated you less if they were fine.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

I wouldn't be annoyed with the wait...there's always a wait at a doctor's office, it seems. Especially for new patients.
But I would be annoyed at the treatment, and I would probably go elsewhere or give it one more shot and see what happens.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

It's annoying having to wait at The Dr.s office. I go to the dermatologists once a month. Sometimes I get taken right away and sometimes I wait. Maybe ask them when is a slower time or try to be their first appointment.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

When I make an doctor's appointment, I expect to wait about 20-30 minutes & stop counting once I'm in an exam room. But, I do think that an office should apologize for a 45 minute wait.

If it was an ob/gyn, I get that there are emergencies that could result in the doctor rushing to the hospital, delivering a baby in the office, etc. I think there are rarely dermatological emergencies short of that flesh eating bacteria thing.

I do think that you could go into any doctor's appointment for what appears to be something minor & it's something that warrants further examination. BUT, even with that, they make you come back for a second appointment.

For example, my yearly skin check may result in them taking a biopsy. Sometimes they'll make me go BACK for the biopsy (I'm sure so they can bill for another visit).

I wouldn't expect an explanation as to why I was waiting, but I would expect an apology. Given that her explanation was that it's a dermatologist office, I'm thinking it's par for the course there.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Was this at Dr. Peredo's office by any chance? That sounds like a typical appointment there.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

It is annoying in general, because waiting succks, but this is pretty typical of most Drs offices I have gone to, even my Derm. Ive waited 30 min or more in the waiting room with no one else waiting and then waited another 20 in the room.

I wouldnt expect an appology for your wait, she probably didnt have any idea how long you were there.

people go to the derm for a wide range of issues so it isnt always quick visit to prescribe some cream for acne. people often go in to have procedures done(removing moles, warts etc) this takes time

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

I've waited 2 hours at my derm's office..but she is really hard to get an appt with bc she's one of the best on LI.

She has mentioned that people do complain about the wait, but then she followed that up with she takes her time with each patient. Some patients need more time, some don't.

I never wait 2 hours in a dr's office, but for her, I do.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Posted by PatsBrat

Was this at Dr. Peredo's office by any chance? That sounds like a typical appointment there.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Posted by LadyBugN2Buggies

Posted by PatsBrat

Was this at Dr. Peredo's office by any chance? That sounds like a typical appointment there.

was JUST going to say this

you wait an ETERNITY THERE.

Only way I will go is if it's right early in the morning when they first open.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Yes,, you should be annoyed.. I always have the same problem with my ped but it's usually an hour wait.. I'd be annoyed!

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Wow - my dermatologist I'm always in and out very quickly. I usually try to expect a wait at a doctor's office but IMO anything over a half hour can be a little annoying.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

It stinks to wait 45 minutes but I think it's pretty standard in many offices. You never know what goes on behind the scenes- someone devastated after being diagnosed with skin cancer, a complicated deep biopsy, someone coming in with a rash that turns out to be a systemic infection, cancer screening on someone with many many moles......so I can see how they can run late sometimes. If you are unhappy though I would try another office.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

LB, if you're willing to try someone else, I highly recommend:

Dr. Laurie J Levine, MD
Nassau Dermatologic Laser Center
200 Old Country Road Suite 140
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: (516) 742-6136

She's right by your job, you could probably even go at lunch

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

if you're talking about Dr Peredo's office, I've never waited more than 10 minutes, so I wouldn't say 45 min is typical. Then again, I haven't been there in months. (And I always take the last appt of the night)

I'd be frustrated, too.

Message edited 4/13/2011 1:27:10 PM.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

As someone who has had a doctor spend extra time with me when something was off with a normal visit, I no longer get annoyed having to wait. I just assume he/she is doing the same for someone else that needs it.
However, I don't think it's acceptable for such a long wait to occur on every visit. And I do think it should be acknowledged, not neccessarily an apology, but at least "thank you for being patient" or something like that.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Not a fluke at all! Happens when I go their as well.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

If you always have to wait almost an hour their office is being mismanaged and they are not doing a thing about it.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

I would be annoyed they didn't at least acknowledge the wait. We all know things happen that result in waits at the doctor's office but I think a little respect thrown towards the patient can go a long way.

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Posted by Little-J-Mommy

LB, if you're willing to try someone else, I highly recommend:

Dr. Laurie J Levine, MD
Nassau Dermatologic Laser Center
200 Old Country Road Suite 140
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: (516) 742-6136

She's right by your job, you could probably even go at lunch

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by LadyBugN2Buggies

Posted by PatsBrat

Was this at Dr. Peredo's office by any chance? That sounds like a typical appointment there.

was JUST going to say this

you wait an ETERNITY THERE.

Only way I will go is if it's right early in the morning when they first open.

Yes! It was. Glad my experience wasn't a fluke

Okay, thanks LadyBug - that's good advice! And I won't be seeing the PA there anymore either

Re: Annoyed with dr's office, but not sure if I should be

ugh - I waited an hour and a half in a waiting room at a derm's office. I only did b/c I had poison ivy and was miserable.


I was upset when someone came in a good hour after me was called in before me. I know that there are different reasons for this. I'm pretty calm and asked the desk and they gave me the worst attitude. That is the real problem.

I wish I knew before that I could have gone to my GP first...I was in and out in 5 min.



on a side note: I had a mole removed and left to go shopping. I looked down at my foot (where the mole was) and it was soaked in blood. I had to go back and get it re-cauterized. So there are some emergencies.