Mind if I vent? I made an appointment with my Primary Care Physician a few weeks ago because of knee pain and swelling that won't go away.  This doc has been my regular doctor since I was 25.  Love him, but the quality of his staff has gone down over the years -- it hasn't been the pleasant experience it once was to go to his office.  Not only did I have to wait a while to get an appointment, I had to wait a LONG while in the tiny examination room with the door shut.  After nearly an hour, I walked out in the hall to see the nurse who had checked me in working on her computer.  I asked her how much longer the doctor would be -- she said he shouldn't be much longer.  I went back in the tiny room for a few more minutes, then walked out right past the nurse who didn't even look up from her computer. Sheesh, I don't need that!  So I got a reference for an orthopedic doc from a good friend and saw him a couple of weeks ago.  I had to wait around quite a bit, but it was nothing ridiculous.  After the x-rays turned out okay, he send me to a different place to get an MRI.  I had my follow up appointment with the ortho doc yesterday to tell me the results of the MRI.  I had to blow off another appointment to be there, and showed up about 25 minutes early.  No problem, I don't mind sitting and reading if I'm early, and there's always a possiblity they'll get to me earlier if I'm already there.  There were only two other people together in the enormous, opulent waiting room with me.  One of them decided it was appropriate to talk on her cell phone like her caller was deaf for (no kidding) at least 20 minutes!  By now, my appointment time has come and gone.  When the doctor was 30 minutes late and I'd been waiting an hour, I asked a receptionist how much longer I'd need to wait.  "It should only be a few more minutes."  A "few more minutes" later, I handed another receptionist the disc of my MRI results, told her I had to leave, let her know I thought a heads-up that the doctor was running late would have been in order, and asked her to have the doctor call me that day to tell me what was up with my knee.  Well, as you can imagine, I didn't even get that phone call! 

I understand doctors run late -- there are emergencies, late patients, etc.  But a little common-sense courtesy from someone letting patients know that the doctor is running late would be kind.  It stinks to be sitting waiting long past your appointment time, not having ANY idea how much longer you'll be waiting, and to have the office staff going about their business like you're not even there.  Respect for one's time and hard-earned money should go both ways.