LOL! Sorry. Been busy with my 10 min appointments.
1. As Bert pointed out, i'm a surgeon. Postop appointment do not take long at all. However, the main reason for 10 min appointment slots is to accommodate double, or triple, bookings. My policy is I never turn down a referral. If you call my office, you get a same day appointment if requested. You may have to wait a while...
2. a new cholecystitis patient will probably take ME ten minutes or less. education by staff, scheduling, labs, records, etc will take longer... Every patient sees an EMMI video on their procedure and then sees me, if appropriate. Saves time. Most patients come to me with a diagnosis. Most PCP's I deal with are reliable. There are a few I double check their work, but not many.
3. Cancer patients, God forbid the breast cancer patient, make take over an hour. Which is why i restrict my breast practice. I can tell a patient I need to take your colon out in 10 minutes. Taking some skin and fat (i.e. breast) not so fast.
4. I do weight loss surgery. FU visits are fast. Mostly making sure they are following an appropriate low glycemic index diet. Initial visits are also fast, as all patients come to a seminar I give twice a week which takes over an hour and during which I explain all the procedures and risks, as well as lifestyle changes necessary for success. Patients come in with a pretty good idea about what they want. Ever taken a history from obese patients? Not much to say.
5. Don't forget the nutritional and psych appointment slots
6. I see 30+ patients a day. Yes, I am a surgeon.
7. There are only two doctors in my practice. I am the IT guy. Going around updating 20 pc x 20 users is overwhelming. But I did it.
8. I do over 1000 cases a year. I do not count the minor procedures I do in my office. Those of you who wonder why a patient would come see such a busy surgeon. Ask yourself, would you go to a surgeon whose waiting area is empty? Most patients are referred to me by pcp;s. They do so because of my results. So, don't bite your tongue so hard.
I appreciate all your comments.
