Clinic Day at TGH

[toni]

I had my clinic appointment at TGH last week. This appointment is every two months and it is to ensure you are continuing to do well.

My appointment was for 1:30 but we arrived early. I was weighed and then brought to the examining room at 1pm and told a Dr would be in shortly. At 2:30 I finally asked if I had been forgotten and was assured that a Dr would be in soon. It was after 3pm when a nurse practitioner came in, read my file for 10 minutes then asked me some questions.

I wasn't too impressed at this point. I asked a couple of questions and she left the room. She then brought in Dr Singer, who I hadn't met before (I've had a different doctor each clinic appointment). She was very nice and did apologize for the wait as it was "one of those days".

I fully understand that there can be delays however I would have preferred to wait in the waiting room. It's less claustrophobic!

A friend of mine who has been waiting for lungs for 14 months told me to get used to it as it happens quite frequently.

[mary57]

Toni, I don't know what to say, how frustrating for you. Perhaps if you asked before hand if they were 'on time' and if not could you stay in the waiting room ?? if not I guess a book or something to pass the time??

[toni]

I guess Mary the frustrating part was the not knowing when. I know someone who got left in an exam room until 5:00pm one day and never did see a doctor!

I know how busy doctors get but if this is going to happen all the time then it's not good.

I'll wait and see the next time.

[sandy07]

The last time (Dec.4) that I had pneumonia I was kept waiting in emergency for 5 hrs. ...in the little exam room also. No book. I guess a suspected stroke came in but someone could have told me. I only stayed because I had no choice. Too sick to wait another day. I make sure I take something to read now.

[susanny]

What a bad experience. Mary's suggestion was a good one for the next visits, as well as the book idea. I hope you weren't perched on the edge of the examining table the whole time.

My sister's best friend got locked in her gyn's office one visit. Dressed in a paper 'gown', she finally opened the door and looked out and found all the lights out. Everyone had gone home for the day. She doesn't go there anymore.

Hope you had good results otherwise of your visit and trust that everything is ok and good to go.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Hurry up and wait eh Toni? Drives a person wild and me; I'm not a good patient. If your clinic is like ours at all, the examining rooms are all off one central waiting room. I refuse to have the door closed while I'm waiting and I also wander around out in the main area (can't sit still). I don't go far enough that I can't see the Dr coming and it probably drives them crazy. Other than, or also with, a book..... do you knit or anything like that?

I take it though that the appointment went alright?

Sue...... that was too funny about your sister's friend.

[wendyco]

sorry Toni, seems to be the nature of the beast!
I do what Jackie does except I don't roam the hallways but I will NOT allow the door to be kept closed.....no air in the rooms if the door is closed

[shelley]

What an enormous drag...I'm shaky enough on the days when I go there and my anxiety level would have gone through the roof. I do know that the doctors are on some sort of very weird sched. For example, Dr. Hutcheon is only there sporadically and when I speak to his secretary to set up appts she often tells me she doesn't know when he will be returning and does not have a calendar for him yet. Like yourself, I would have stayed in the room only because I would be afraid that they would think I had left due to frustration (even when warranted) otherwise. How often are you going down to TGH now (exercise/exams?) and are you maintaining a physical regimen elsewhere instead? This situation always confuses me...I had heard that Wednesday info meetings were very important.

[chrisw]

Waiting a long time (especially without reading material ) can be very frustrating. However we do need to remember that these specialists are probably the same ones we rely on when we get rushed into emergency to perform instant miracles. The reason that you are left waiting just may be that he is busy saving a life, or even just answering a lot of questions from another patient who needs those answers as much as you or I.
I don't think any of us would expect a good specialist to schedule much waiting time for himself between patients. good specialists are too few and far between for them to waste their time twiddling their thumbs.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Chris.... aren't you being the diplomatic one!

....... But I don't think though that these same "specialists" do a rotation in the ER , or after hours when we get "rushed" in.