MORE: 11 Things Only Someone With Endometriosis Understandsġ2. ![]() Couldn't be easier-but there's also no way to sweet-talk the computer. Refine your search by doctor gender, reason for visit, and accepted insurance. Search the free online database by city and specialty to find ratings and availability. You can avoid the office entirely by asking the receptionist this: Is the doctor open to receiving e-mails and text messages? Does the doctor set aside any time for non-emergency phone conversations with patients? If so, you're in!ġ1. And, of course, don't forget your insurance card and ID.ġ0. Call your insurance provider to double-check coverage and co-pay. Double-check everything. To avoid screwups that'll cause delays or force a return trip, check with the office the day before your appointment to be sure all necessary lab and test results are in. (Some offices also make them available online or via e-mail.)ĩ. If you're a new patient and you can't arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment, ask the office to send the required forms beforehand. Welcome To The Brave New World Of Virtual Medicine.Ĩ. MORE: The Doctor Who Saved This Man's Life Never Even Met Him. If you have a late-day appointment, call the office an hour ahead of time to see if the doctor is on schedule. "People want to use up their insurance benefits or flexible spending accounts before year's end," explains Robin Omeltschenko, director of operations at Cincinnati's Total Dentistry.ħ. Cold and flu season makes winter the busiest time, with December being especially nuts. September is good, too, because it's back-to-school time.Ħ. From May through August, most people are relatively healthy and on vacation, so doctors' offices of all kinds are quieter. Save your annual checkup for late spring or summer. "I'll know not to book you next to a procedure or an annual visit, which takes longer," says Ogletree.ĥ. Give a deadline. If you can't avoid busy office times, tell the receptionist when you call that you need to leave by a certain time. That's the slowest day in most offices.Ĥ. If these slots don't fit your schedule, make a Wednesday appointment. Schedule appointments for the early morning or right after lunch. That's when docs are most likely to be on time, so you'll wait less. MORE: Why A Growing Number Of Doctors Are Making Herbs Their Go-To Remediesģ. But rest assured, "if it's something more involved, the nurse will put the phone in the doctor's hands," says Lisa Ogletree, a receptionist at Stride Strong Physical Therapy in Portland, OR. ![]() Trust the nurses. What you think is a question only a doctor can answer may actually be something a nurse is qualified to handle. If the office can squeeze you in, take whatever time they can give you.Ģ. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playĪdds Julie Ullman, a receptionist at the Scottsdale, AZ, office of obstetrician-gynecologist Gino Tutera, "If your last-minute request is due to an urgent matter, make that clear to the receptionist." And one rule reigns over all others: Be flexible.
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