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No one ever seems in a hurry. For example, we set up a primary health provider and I had an appt. set for a first time face to face with the doctor. I waited 30 minutes in the waiting room past my scheduled appt. time.
Another appt. there to pull a blood sample, that's it. Evidently, they recently began scheduling 'lab work' appt.'s separately from doctor visits so things would work more smoothly. This appt. was for 10:20 AM so you'd hardly think they could have fallen behind by that time in the day. Again, 30 minute wait past my scheduled appt. time!
So then, my mom gets a diverticulitis attack and I take her to the Duke hospital in Durham--7 1/2 HRS!! Just waiting at all stages of the game. The last part, we were waiting for the nurse to bring the perscription in and it was taking a long time, so I go out to the nurses station, my mom's prescription is sitting there ready on the printer with several others and the nurse is just sitting there drinking a pop! He finally got it ready after he looked up and saw me, he KNEW we were waiting. And my mom is diabetic and hadn't eaten all day.
And its not just the health care stuff, I've applied to UNC and Wake Tech (as a backup plan), my transcripts got to UNC in November and they still don't have them recorded on the website. I've called and been reassured that the transcripts are all in, they have just not been recorded yet but they will by the end of the year. Now the head of the dept. for the program I'm applying to emailed me to say that all my stuff is not in yet and admissions is saying don't worry, so clearly the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
But the big question here is that no one seems to mind all this butt-dragging that happens. No one moves fast that I have seen. I just don't get it. Can anyone explain this phenomena to me?
i don't think it's just here that you have to wait forever. only advice i can give is to get used to it as i suspect it's only going to get a lot worse.
Call ahead to your doc's office and ask them how far they're running behind before heading out to an appt. When I lived in CA I went to one specialist who I liked very much but he was ALWAYS horrendously late...like often running 2 hrs late. So I'd make my appt for 3pm, knowing I could pop in after work (5 or 5:30pm) and I'd call them to make sure and yep, he was always running 2+ hrs behind. It's ridiculous, I agree, but you do what you gotta do.
Much like if you have a friend who always arrives late for every plan you make with them...you learn to tell them the time 30 to 45 min earlier because you know that's how late they'll be (since that's what they usually are).
Survival strategies for those who are punctual trying to live in a world where so many are not!
Just curious -- why did you move to NC? Maybe a slower pace of life?? That seems to be a common answer . . . but just so you know, the South moves slower than "up there" and the summers are hotter.
I have lived in a lot of places and found this everywhere. It just depends on the place. Some individuals are punctual and some are chronically late. Those long waits peeve me, too, especially waiting for my hairdresser. I often call ahead. But often they say, "yes, things are on time" because their (or their bosses) time is more important than yours. I am just thankful for the punctual ones!
About the Duke ER, I don't understand how they can make someone wait so long there, I have also witnessed this torture with a family member. They have great doctors and the intensive care nurses there were unbelievably kind, accommodating and on top of everything. But the rest of the facility is slow and their administration is horrendous. I guess with the good comes some bad. But I feel for the patients waiting to be seen in the ER...
As far as the Duke incident with your mom, I highly recommend you notify the appropriate people in charge of that particular department (on the nursing level). You can name names (or not) but I assure, they want your input.
Regarding doctors that habitually run late - I request FIRST morning appointments....may have to wait a bit longer to actally be scheduled, but it is worth it IMO.
Yeah, it seems like people move here to get AWAY from a rushed, stressful pace, and then when they get here, they complain that it's too slow?!?
...'cause you know, we all just LOVE to hear transplants complain about the way things are done here, especially when they moved here by choice!
BUT--if there is any place in the US where you DON'T have to wait to see a doctor, I'd like to know it!
I was thinking someone would say this. I moved here because my husband lost his job in the Midwest and then got a job here. Yes, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't having a hard time adjusting to life here.
I at first got annoyed by the slow pace of life. However as my body and mind set began to wind down I learned to enjoy and relish that slow pace. Perhaps being retired helps but understand it will git er done, so take a nap while you wait.
I always take a book.
Of course, when I go to the dentist (which I fear more than my wife) I don't even get to sit for more than 2 minutes and the doc is out calling my name with that tortuous smile.
I wouldn't mind waiting just a little bit...
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