Whenever we talk with people who have seen a doctor recently, they are generally happy to have gotten helpful advice and treatment. But there are usually two or three things about the visit that drove them nuts.
High on the list of annoyances is the waiting. Why is it that good restaurants somehow manage to schedule reservations so that you rarely have to wait more than a few minutes for your table? Keep in mind that they have to account for slow eaters who want to linger over dessert. Despite the extraordinary variability in eating styles, most nice restaurants have your table waiting for you when you arrive. Why can’t a doctor’s office arrange scheduling in such a way that your wait is only a few minutes max?
That is just one example. Here’s another: people also tell us that they find the exam gowns embarrassing at best and ridiculous at worst. Why do they put the ties in back so that your butt is hanging out? What’s wrong with a bathrobe-like gown that ties in front? Companies make them, so why don’t more doctors’ offices use them?
Those are just two possibilities. What are your pet peeves? Please tell us in your comments below.
Joe & Terry Graedon
Update:
Consumer Reports has just done a survey to find out what bothers people about their doctor visits. It turns out that the most common problem is also the most serious. Doctors who failed to explain exactly what is wrong or how they plan to treat the patient rank at the top of the list. Check it out here
