Patient sues podiatrist for being kept waiting

Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.

How often have you felt like this:
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Sick-Of-Waiting-Patient-Sues-Doctor--123777164.html

 

The patient always has the right to leave the office if the doctor is running behind schedule. All they have to do is ask the staff to see if the doctor is running late.

Do I get to sue the handyman, or cable guy, or telephone guy, or contractor if they show up an hour late? I'm sure that handyman wouldn't like me billing him for $300.00/hr if he showed up an hour late at my house to fix the toilet.

 

Well said Dr. Kirby!

 

I just used Kevin's words to reply to this article because it incensed me. Tried to think of my own example instead of using Kevins but couldn't think of as typical a scenario so I just plagerised.

I think 87 mins without letting people know you are running late is excessive butall these people saying that if you" have an appointment at 3, you should be seen at 3" are idiots.

They will be quick to say that but when they have some complicated case that requires a little more input, I doubt they will be walking out of the door voluntarily saying, "sorry doctor, my time is up, I'll just book another chargeable appointment"

Robin

 

I recently had to take one of the Arena'ettes to an outpatient appointment and was surprised to find out that we did not actually have an "appointment time" ... we had a "reporting time" ! :bash:

 

Euphamism for, "take a number, have a seat, we hope you brought a good book"

 

How's this...tell the complaining patient that the doctor will see them right away, rush through the visit so he can get back on time.

Steve

 

I try my best to be on time for my patients because I expect them to be on time for me. Would Dr Taylor have treated the patient had HE turned up 87 minutes late? Aye, right!

 

I noticed the following from the initial link:

100% agree that emergencies should be priority. Even the most well organised clinic may run behind but to knowingly double or even triple book patients this Dr. was surely asking for patients to be upset at some point.

I do believe the law suite to be over the top. Personally if I had been the patient I would have cancelled & gone elsewhere. Everybody's time is valuable, ours no more so than our patients. It would have been common decency to have the reception team notify waiting patients of potentially lengthy delays.

Just my thoughts....

Kind regards,

Mandy.

 

having been on the receiving end of a GP who used to keep me waiting for hours I can fully understand the situation from both sides. I think its a disgrace to keep people waiting for those kinds of timescales by being totally unprofessional by double or triple booking appts. If you've seen the patients before you should know roughly how long each will take. if you haven't then you allow more time for your asessment. I realise that emergencies take priority but come on how do we all feel when we attend A and E ( accident and emergency) and have to be kept waiting for and hour or so when the emergencies are dealt with. you have to see it from both sides. I this case the Dr should re evaluate his appt. schedule and be more professional instead of thinking just of his wallet

 

Our GP you book a time, turn up hand them your medicare card and they then book you in for an appointment.

Having some renovations done here at the moment and its going like this....
Rendering guy 1 week late and took an extra day off during the work
New custom reception desk 3 weeks late and damaged
New display slat wall, wanted to deliver early by one week:wacko:...we weren't ready whilst we had other works on hand
New posters,5 days late
The new computer system, "You can pick it up today Mr Sutton", only to arrive to find they were out of stock

But the really funny thing, my money was always on time and never DAMAGED !

PS l strangely feel better now !

 

I never double or treble book but often am left in the lurch by patients not pitching for their appointments. If the public was aware of how much professional time is wasted by patients not turning up for their appointments they would be shocked. Maybe we should sue back.

I have often wondered if black lists for patients who are serial non arrivals were available on the web we would find that it is the same people all the time for all health care providers.

 

working in the NHS we get a lot of patients not turning up. I think we should adopt the same principal as Dentists and still charge clients when they don't turn up without sufficient notice. Maybe then the financial incentive would mean that they would at least make the effort to turn up or give sufficient notice that we can rebook their appointments and see peolpe who genuinely need our service.

 

This can be a real problem

I also work in the NHS but I have always used the same approach for NHS or private patients.
I always turn up for clinics in plenty of time so that even if there are a few hitches I can still start on time. I allow enough time for each patient so that I do not have to rush in order to usually avoid running late (so patients do not get the impression they always have to wait or that I do not have enough respect to keep to the time I have agreed with them). I always apologise if I am running late and explain that treatment can sometimes take longer than expected despite us taking care to have allowed enough time. Patients realise that I will take the time needed for them and notice that I never allow a consultation to feel rushed.
If my clinic is running late the receptionist tells patients as they arrive and the likely wait time and also that they can rebook if they want.
If a patient turns up late; it depends on how late.
If by their lateness it leaves 50% or less of their appointment time; my receptionist will tell the patient that as there is not enough time to see them without everyone else being made to wait, I will not be able to see them straight away. If they wish to wait, I will see them at the end of the clinic or sooner (if someone cancels to create a space). They can then decide if they want to wait or rebook.
If they have an acute problem but for some reason cannot wait until the end of the clinic, I will of course examine them and do whatever emergency treatment will keep them O.K. until they can come again.
I work on the basis of treating others as I would wish to be treated myself and I have never had a patient complain that this approach to either running late or them turning up late is either unreasonable.
Of course even a saint such as myself will never be safe from the patient from Hell.
Or lawyers happy to assist them!

In private practice I always had a statement that I would charge if they they did't turn up or cancelled without 24 hours notice - but this can only easily be enforced if they actually come for another appointment.

 

That can be easily remedied with taking credit card details and keeping them on file.

My receptionists inform patients of the cancellation policy and take credit card details. The card is only charged for the full appointment fee if they reschedule or cancel/fail to show up with in the specified time.

I have enforced this policy and everyone has paid up. Admittedly some do not return as they feel hard done by, but they have been advised at time of booking and reminded 2 days before via email/text reminders so there is no excuse.

Some patients may have a problem with giving out cc details over the phone, but my view is; if you can trust me with your health, you should be able to trust me with you card details.....people give card details to reserve a hotel room etc all the time!

Patients will try their luck.

Be firm but fair. In these tough economic times patients need to respect the commitment you/we make for them.

 

thats exactly the same approach that most NHS podiatrists stick to. However we don't have receptionists to help deflect latecomers. They sometimes just come and knock on the door and still expect treatment. We always try our best for the emergencies but can't help feeling if only the patients had the same respect for us as we have for them.
We all get patients from hell thankfully most patients aren't that bad.

 

We try not to run more than 15 minutes behind. If we are very behind, we give nominal value Tim hortons gift cards. And apologize for the inconvenience. We also let newer people know we tend to run on time. I have had some PTs assume we run behind like doctors and completely miss their scheduled time, while I have been twirling my thumbs waiting for them.
We leave breaks that can either be booked with emergency apts or allow me to finish my coffee/check email, go on pod arena, and book extended (increased price) visits for people who rarely come or have lots of work.
This man is an inconsiderate and unprofessional fool who deserves to be sued; look at the scheduling policies? Hello. You have only two arms not 6. I'm surprised any clients put up with it. I'd be looking elsewhere. In self pay environment, I would not get away with this crap for long. People will go to the person across town to be seen without waiting hours on end.
S