I am a punctual person. Always have been. If I have an appointment, I treat it like a commitment—because it is. I leave early, plan for traffic, and make sure I respect the time I’ve been given. After all, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?
Yet, time and time again, I find myself sitting in a cold, impersonal waiting room, staring at the clock as the minutes stretch into an hour. The irony? If I were even ten minutes late, my appointment would be canceled. Rescheduled. Possibly even subject to a fee. But when the doctor is running behind, well, that’s just how it is.
Let’s talk about that for a second.
It seems we, the patients, are expected to be grateful when the doctor finally meanders in, clipboard or tablet in hand, sighing like we’re the ones who kept them waiting. We’re expected to smile and nod when they give a half-hearted, “Thanks for your patience,” as if we had a choice. Meanwhile, we’ve spent an hour shifting in an uncomfortable chair, flipping through outdated magazines, or scrolling mindlessly on our phones just to pass the time.
Why the double standard? Why is our time disposable while theirs is sacred?
I get it—emergencies happen. Schedules run behind. Medicine isn’t always predictable. But the hypocrisy is what stings. If I am not important enough to be seen when I’m five minutes late, then why am I expected to sit quietly for an hour when the doctor is behind?
It’s more than just an inconvenience. It’s discouraging. It makes you feel like a number, not a person. It sends the message that their time is valuable, but yours is not. And honestly? That doesn’t sit well with me.
So, what’s the solution? I wish I knew. Maybe a little more respect for both sides. Maybe a system that acknowledges that patients also have lives, responsibilities, and places to be. Maybe, just maybe, a world where punctuality is a two-way street.
Until then, I guess I’ll just keep showing up on time—only to sit and wait.
This is my opinion. You may have all of it, some of it, or none of it,
I believe doctor offices schedule appointments too close together guaranteeing delays between patients. I want my doctor to sit and talk with me but if he’s on a tight schedule he/she can’t of if they do then the next patient ends up waiting. I find it very frustrating as well.