Why do doctor's offices give appointment times?

It’s what’s booked in the software. Just like a flight, there’s a takeoff time, which is different than the departure time and also different than the time you should arrive at the gate for boarding. If you look on your boarding pass though, it has a departure time and an arrival time.

It’s ridiculous that they asked you to arrive 45 minutes early. That would annoy me. I’ve never been asked to arrive 45 minutes early. I find around here, it’s standard for them to ask you to arrive 15 minutes early to “do paperwork” even though often, the paperwork has been done on their portal, which they may send you to days prior to the appointment.

It’s also ridiculous that they hand you five or so pieces of paper to fill out every appointment, when, unless something has changed, it’s just a time waster and paper waster.

I usually arrive at the appointed time. I have enough trouble doing that, let alone early and definitely never 45 minutes early.

I just wanted to add that a friend used to work in a doctor’s office and she said that the doctor saw over 80 patients per day. It’s like a factory. That means if the doctor works 8 hours, he’s seeing 10 patients per hour, which is one every six minutes. It’s probably less than six minutes per patient, because that doctor has to take time out to go to the bathroom, eat something for lunch, and return phone calls. With that schedule, the earlier in his work day that you have your appointment, the bigger chance it will be on time. The later you go, things are probably pushed back and pushed back from last minute stuff happening, then it’s likely the time you actually see him would be later than the appointed time.

The reason they want you there at least somewhat early is:

- in case check-in takes longer than expected (like they’re very busy and/or there’s only 1 receptionist)

- so they can have you ready for the doc when he’s ready for you

- in case they can actually see you early

@jca2 is right – the earlier in the day your appt is the less waiting

I have trouble determining when I’m supposed to be there because I tend to second-guess. So if they tell me my appt is a 2:00, I’m wondering ok, is that actually when I’m supposed to arrive for a 2:15 appt? or do I need to arrive at 1:45 for a 2:00 appt? I try to remember to ask but usually forget.

This got me in trouble recently when I had to wait 45 mins for an MRI. :(

What’s annoying is when the wait is more than an hour (annoying to me).

What’s also annoying is when the wait in the waiting room is one wait, and then you get put into the exam room and sit there for another 20 minutes. If the total wait for both is more than an hour, it’s extra annoying.

My regular doctor, the wait might be ten minutes in the waiting room and maybe 10 more in the exam room, which isn’t terrible.

I usually arrive ten minutes before a doctor’s appointment and will be seen within fifteen minutes. I don’t have any complaints. I make sure I am there at the appointed time and I’m pretty sure my doctor also aims to be there on time.

I’d be a little annoyed if the doctor expected me to arrive 45 minutes before my appointment was due but I appreciate how difficult it must be for the doctor to keep the day’s appointments running to schdule.

So that the waiting room is never full to bursting while at the same time ensuring that the doctor is never sitting around doing nothing. (You would not believe the amount of chaos an unoccupied doctor can cause)