I used to have to wait up to an hour at the pediatrician's, but for the most part I haven't had to wait too long for myself. I figure you have to weigh the time you spend waiting against the time it takes to walk, out reschedule, and come back and wait again next time. I just wait and get it over with.

Our former primary care doc office was notoriosouly (sp) late for appointments - to the point they had no wall clock in the office so you could not easily see how far behind they were. This is the same office, when I needed a surgical referral and called them, they said I needed to give them a surgeon's name. So sorry, but not on a first name basis with surgeons in the area. Called our former/current doc's office and got all the needed info. Frankly, I would not wait more than 30 minutes for a scheduled doc appt. Particularly if it's a multi-doc office. They triple book for insurance purposes. And guess what....my time is equally as valuable to me as their's is to them! I only go to doc's when I am ill. Neither DH or I have ongoing issues that need maintenance. If there are 5-6 docs in the office, and you can't see me within 30 minutes of when I'm scheduled...guess what...there are docs/offices that can.

As to ER's.....God bless Jan's experience. Like the other poster that was taking a family member to the ER for chest pains....I was taking DH to ER one night for stitches. He sliced he hand from heel of thumb across entire palm to base of ring finger. At the end of the day it took 14 stitches to close the wound. BUT....it took us over 7 HOURS in the ER to deal with that. Because we had to wait for the slip/fall victims who walked into the ER that winter night. Our ER dept.'s are like going to a deli counter...take a number and we'll take you in that order. So much for triage.

My DH and I go to the same internist and only wait 10-15 min. Years ago I used to wait hours, but no more. I think the office used to book the appointments too close together, and don't do it any more. The last time I had to go to the ER, I only waited a few minutes--maybe because I was in so much pain (kidney stone). I think "they" have improved service a lot.
Sue

I always take a yo yo bag or hexie bag with me. If I need lab work and have to fast which lately a couple times. I make sure my appointment is very early preferably right after they open up. I get nauseous feeling and headache if I haven't eaten by 8-830a.m. I will not wait past an hour for dr. appointment. I get antsy and ask why. Had a dr. when I first came down here. No matter my appointed time it was always 2 hours that lasted ended another hour. that was the first and last time I went to him. I would just go to urgent care. when I had a heart attack ended up in the ER and the heart specialist referred me to my current dr. Been with him for over 12 years. Now most of the time I'm home within the hour after my appointment. I still take my yo yo or hexie bag.

Our wait times at our Primary Drs. office is usually kept to within 15 minutes AFTER our actual appointment time.. I can't say the same for COAG, those ladies are slower than molasses in winter.....lol If we wait longer than 15 minutes I start bugging them, I do this about 3 times with in a 10 minute span. Then as if by magic we are seen.

We make sure we are at least 10 minutes ahead of schedule for our appts.

I read a book on my tablet while I wait.

I always take a knitting or crochet project with me because I usually have to wait, sometimes an hour, sometimes longer, it varies.

I had a dentist once ask me to sign a form that I agreed to pay a penalty of $50.00 if I kept the dentist waiting. Really? A patient making the dentist wait? So I said I would be happy to sign it, IF he was willing to do the same for me. The receptionist looked as me like I was crazy. So told her my time was just as valuable as his and since I had to take off time from work, drive to the appointment only to be kept waiting it would make sense that I be compensated as he would like to be. The dentist said I didn't need to sign it, and he kept me as a patient.

It makes sense that a doctor really doesn't know what he is going to encounter when he walks into the exam room, but I do expect if they are running any more than 30 minutes behind that they tell me this when I check in. Because we all have more to do than sit and wait. I do take sewing or a book to entertain myself but it is totally rude not to warn us. We can always run an errand and come back. If I have an urgent need to see the Dr then they tell me what time to come in and so I am not taking up space in the waiting room.

I never have to wait very long. I am liked by the two D.A.s and they know me by name and by site. I am always 15 minutes early. I just grab a mag. and read.

A few years ago, there were many of us in my Dr.'s waiting room (he was a sole practitioner, so we were all waiting for one guy). One young woman mentioned to her companion that she was working at a crab house with a great price on all-you-can-eat. The fellow next to me asked her the name of the crab house and -- long story short -- it has become the go-to place for my husband and me and all our company ever since. Though I always take my Kindle, I am alert to "finds" that may crop up in conversation.

That Dr. has since retired and my new Dr. is very prompt. I've never waited longer than 10 minutes for the few appts I have had with her.