Doctors office policy

[NewCreation435]

I was just curious about what others experiences are with professionals you have an appointment with such as a doctor or specialist? Do they charge you if you don't show up or cancel late? Do they limit the number of times that you can cancel or reschedule? I'm fairly sure that if I don't show up to my specialist he would charge me for a no show which I believe is $50.
I know most of the psychiatrist that I have worked with will allow about 3 no show/late cancellations and then will refuse to see the person again. In my private pay online counseling practice I allow for three no show/cancellations and then I will refuse to reschedule with the person and request that they switch to a different counselor. or I can refer them to someone else. It is actually easy to switch to a different person onlne.
I do tell the person this at the beginning when they decide to work with me, so it isn't something that comes up at the last minute. Part of this is because it is private pay contract, so if I don't see people I don't get paid for my time. Late cancellations don't allow me to have the time to find someone else to put in that spot.
I've had that happen about four times this week and it is very frustrating.

 

[Josiah]

I was just curious about what others experiences are with professionals you have an appointment with such as a doctor or specialist? Do they charge you if you don't show up or cancel late? Do they limit the number of times that you can cancel or reschedule? I'm fairly sure that if I don't show up to my specialist he would charge me for a no show which I believe is $50.
I know most of the psychiatrist that I have worked with will allow about 3 no show/late cancellations and then will refuse to see the person again. In my private pay online counseling practice I allow for three no show/cancellations and then I will refuse to reschedule with the person and request that they switch to a different counselor. or I can refer them to someone else. It is actually easy to switch to a different person onlne.
I do tell the person this at the beginning when they decide to work with me, so it isn't something that comes up at the last minute. Part of this is because it is private pay contract, so if I don't see people I don't get paid for my time. Late cancellations don't allow me to have the time to find someone else to put in that spot.
I've had that happen about four times this week and it is very frustrating.

My experience is that all medical professionals have a "no show fine" (variously called). They MAY well have mercy if the reason was justifiable .... or was a "first time"..... but that's mercy.

I think this is reasonable. My mother is a dental hygenist. And "no shows" happen. I don't know what people are thinking..... in all her officies, she is paid by the day, based on all 8 appointments PAYING. So when there is a "no show" Mom gets a break and gets her paycheck - but the doctor is out that money. I'm sure a bit of that is "built in" to the budget, still..... But in some offices, the hygenist simply gets so much PER PATIENT (this is especially common in those "insurance mill" offices where they run you through with 30-45 minute cleanings), you don't show up, she doesn't get paid - the doctor is out nothing (except all the office expenses!) but the hygenist is.

Be courteous! Time is valueable YOURS and the Doctors! Remember the appointment! If you need to change it, DO SO ASAP! Don't be a "no show" (or just as bad, show up too late thinking everyone's schedule for the rest of the day is subject to YOUR irresponsibility).

 

[NewCreation435]

My experience is that all medical professionals have a "no show fine" (variously called). They MAY well have mercy if the reason was justifiable .... or was a "first time"..... but that's mercy.

I think this is reasonable. My mother is a dental hygenist. And "no shows" happen. I don't know what people are thinking..... in all her officies, she is paid by the day, based on all 8 appointments PAYING. So when there is a "no show" Mom gets a break and gets her paycheck - but the doctor is out that money. I'm sure a bit of that is "built in" to the budget, still..... But in some offices, the hygenist simply gets so much PER PATIENT (this is especially common in those "insurance mill" offices where they run you through with 30-45 minute cleanings), you don't show up, she doesn't get paid - the doctor is out nothing (except all the office expenses!) but the hygenist is.

Be courteous! Time is valueable YOURS and the Doctors! Remember the appointment! If you need to change it, DO SO ASAP! Don't be a "no show" (or just as bad, show up too late thinking everyone's schedule for the rest of the day is subject to YOUR irresponsibility).

Yes, I agree.

 

[Albion]

The family doctor (i.e. the GP) has begun to use that 'no show' policy, but no specialist I have dealt with does.

 

[tango]

The only formal policy I've seen regarding a cancellation fee was the guy that used to cut my hair until about 2010. His policy was that if you cancelled with less than an hour's notice you were liable to pay the cost of the treatment you booked. One time I asked him about it, simply because I used to book his last appointment on the day he worked late, because it was the only appointment I could make by the time I got back from work and was concerned what would happen if my train was delayed and I couldn't give him notice. He said it was intended more for the people who routinely just don't show up, and if the last appointment of the day is cancelled at short notice he just packs up and goes home early.

 

[Lamb]

All the doctors and dentists require 24 hour cancellation to not be charged (those I've ever visited). I think in emergency situations they make allowances. I think it's rude to not show up and not bother to contact the person. It says a lot about their character and that they don't respect the other person.

 

[psalms 91]

All the doctors and dentists require 24 hour cancellation to not be charged (those I've ever visited). I think in emergency situations they make allowances. I think it's rude to not show up and not bother to contact the person. It says a lot about their character and that they don't respect the other person.

Lamm I agree with everything you said but on the other hand I get perturbed at doctors who double book and you end up waiting an hour or 2 past your appointment time, seems to me they should have to pay you for your time

 

[Ruth]

Most of my doctors are pretty cool and I have cancelled and rescheduled a lot of times with them. My X Veterenarian, though is another story. I cancelled several times and his incompetent office staff did not tell him. He banned me from going there anymore!:flame:

 

[Josiah]

Lamm I agree with everything you said but on the other hand I get perturbed at doctors who double book and you end up waiting an hour or 2 past your appointment time, seems to me they should have to pay you for your time

The IS the "flip side." And just as I think there are situations where MERCY is appropriate by the office, there are times when it's appropriate by the patient. But if it's CONSISTENT.... if that office consistently makes the patient wait well past the appointment, I agree - that's RUDE and shows disrespect for people's time and would be a reason to consider a different health care provider.

BTW, this is just ONE reason why my mother (a dental hygenist) does NOT do "late arrivers." She needs the whole hour to do a proper job and she WILL NOT expend the appointment into the next person's time (making others "pay" for THEIR irresponsibility). If someone arrives after the appointment time, they are rescheduled (well, more than a FEW minites late); the offices she works at respect the appointment time and don't make people wait if at all possible - special circumstances can happen (an emergency patient, for example) - and people understand that - but it should be far from the norm.

Yup, works both ways.

 

[NewCreation435]

I am sent a survey to fill out every time I see a doctor in our network. One of the questions is always how late I was made to wait for the doctor past the appointment time. I can say they usually have a good track record. Only once or twice have I had to wait pass 15 minutes after the appointment time

 

[Lamb]

I really have only had to wait for doctors where I used to live but where I live now it only happened twice and one was an unplanned emergency and the other was a surgery that the doctor was still involved in. He kept telling the nurse to give me updates...he didn't want me to just walk away LOL