Pediatrition Won't See Us Anymore???

Yep...some places do that. They have blocked off time for the doctor to see you and then you don't show up or call in advance. I used to work for veterinary clinics that would do the same thing. Having worked there and seeing how many people no call/no show, I know how frustrating it can be and how upset the doctors get. I personally don't feel that they are being unreasonable by asking you to go elsewhere.

If they are that lacking in understanding, I would find a new pediatrician. I love mine - Dr Susan Tiegs and Dr. Barry at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Littleton. A smaller practice, great with kids and parents.... and they always run on time - so you don't have to wait. Good luck!

I have to side with pediatricians office on this one too......sorry. If I were you I'd find a new pediatrician and do better at keeping appointments.

Yep, you are being a bit unreasonable. You can't say "it wasn't like I just DIDN'T go" because that's exactly what you did. You were a no show. The doc's office has every right to no longer see your child. No call/no shows cost the office money. And a doctor's office is a business.

Well - A business is allowed to take the clients they want I guess as long as they are not discriminating based on race, religion, gender, ability, etc. Plenty of businesses do it and it is generically referred to as "firing customers".

I also think being charged for lateness seems reasonable (paid by the client, of course - not insurance). But the reason I think a late charge is OK is because for every patient ahead of me that is late....Well, that means my doctor will be late to MY appt even though I was on time. My time is valuable.

So here's what bother's me about clinic late fees...What piece of the late $ gets reimbursed to ME when my appt is delayed by 15+ minutes? I want to see a clinic that passes some of their late fee income to me.

One last thing...I would *like* to be a patient at a clinic that "fired customers" that were late, cancelled appts, etc. because ultimately, I think that clinic would be running more efficiently as far as health care $s go. Plus, I would feel rewarded for my own behavior vs penalized for the behavior of others. Any clinic that wants to be as careful with my $ and time and w/insurance $, etc. is OK with me.

Private practice means they do reserve the right to drop people who don't show up or pay their fees. I'm assuming that if it was the last 2 appointments, then you haven't been to pay the no show fees? (I don't know that, just assuming it). I do try everything in my power to get places on time because it is just disrespectful to be late. However, I get REALLY annoyed at my pediatrician's double booking. There is nothing worse than being in a stuffy waiting room for 45 minutes with a door closed---ridiculous! I'm currently shopping for a new pediatrician for this very reason.
As for your habit of being late, a key I've found is instead of concentrating on "I need to be there for 11", think instead "I need to leave the house at 10:40". Thinking of the appointment time, many subconsciously do nothing until right about that time. If you concentrate on the time you need to leave, you'll get up and moving closer to THAT time. Just a thought.
As for Bethany from Cleveland, that's so incredibly lame. If you wanna be a little grammar teacher, you forgot to mention the apostrophe in this text is at the back of the word instead of the front. This isn't a document for work or school. It's a public forum for people to converse. Lots of people type/text like that; that's life. It's one thing to answer or NOT answer questions, but it's another thing to attack someone's choice of words or style of self expression on a public forum. Just my two cents...

Well they are loosing money if you don't show....and if you are not paying the fee's which I think are reasonable then the boot is what you get. Sounds like you might need to plan an extra half hour at least for apts so you can get there on time! Also the strict 15 minutes is more then fair, I am not happy at all when my apt runs late because some other person could get to theirs on time. Not fair to anyone! And yes, if you choose not to even show up CAUSE time is not on you side then yes you DIDN'T show. And that is plain rude.

Simply put...yes you are. Don't mean to come off harsh, but if that is their policy, then they have every right to stand by it, especially if you just didn't show up...no call, no show. If this is their office policy, it is likely stated in the paperwork that you signed at your first visit. If you feel like you're being treated unfairly, you can ask to see where you were informed of this policy. I've worked in both family practice and peds and there has always been a policy such as this one for patients who are habitual (more than once is considered habitual) appointment-missers.

I work at a doctors office. We give most people 3 chances, the they are "walk-in only." Meaning they will have to wait and be 'worked in.' I have given extra chances to people. one lady's dad was in the ER, One guy called after an accident (I so would not have thought to do that!) Several people called during bad weather (even if they already had 2 or 3 strikes, I did not count that one!)

If someone misses or is late a couple of times in a row, I might double-book them, or refuse to give them "prime time slots."

It does seem a little harsh, but you must remember that a pediatrician has hospital round And office hours. And they cannot fill the time, or bill your insurance. If they do not have a "no-show" fee (Our office does not) they lose money, but still have to pay full staff.

Sorry...have to agree with the ped office. I'm a working mom of three kids 4 1/2 and under and have NEVER missed a pediatric appt. Their time is valuable and why book it with possible "no-shows" when they can offer that appt to someone who really needs to see the dr. My advice...plan ahead and make it a priority to get there and ON TIME! This is your childs health you're talking about - what's more important than that?

Unfortunately, this is pretty standard practice for physician offices, and like other businesses, many have adopted this rule.

You might be able to speak with the practice manager and plead your case, but physicians are known to fire patients just as patients are known to fire physicians.

It's unfortunate and certainly puts you in a bind.

I've spent the past decade in and out of physician's offices professionally - they're getting more and more squeezed for time and income. Insurance companies are reducing reimbursement for services, and the freedoms they have to make their own decisions based upon their judgment are often stripped by a hospital system, insurance company.
I know of several physicians who refused to see patients who come late to their appointments because it throws the rest of the day off. Most primary care providers need to see 30-35 patients/day to break even financially which leaves little room mathematically for delays, missed appointments, etc.

It might be worth a try to speak with them, but I'd recommend assuming the position of apology and see if you can work out a resolution for the best interest of your children.

Good luck!

When I run late, I always call the office to let them know that I'll be there in 5 - 10m. So far, they haven't had a problem with it.

Our ped. has a note on all of the exam room doors and the exit door that they reserve the right to dismiss you from the practice if you've missed 3 appointments.

M.

I'm sure it's written somewhere in the information about missed and canceled appointments. Time is money and they could have seen another child during that time. You only paid $25 to miss it, but just think how much they charge you or an insurance company for being there? I think our insurance pays something like $105 to be seen. That means that every time you don't go, they lose $80!!!
You're at fault. Either call around and find an office that doesn't have the same policy, or start paying better attention to when your appointments are.

I have to side with the docs on this one. Despite your intentions of going, you didn't, so the way they see it is you just didn't show up. Rude, in my opinion. Did you call them to explain why you didn't show? It always surprises me how discourteous people can be with other people's time. I'm gonna guess that you'll never be late for another appointment ever again without good reason (unless you're the kind of person that believes the world revolves around you and everybody should bend over backwards to accommodate your schedule). Sorry for sounding harsh...can you tell people who are late or no-shows are a total pet peeve of mine?

usually, the doctor's office will drop you as a patient after 3 missed appointments or failure to pay the late fee (or any fee for that matter). even if you called last minute to apologize, they still missed one patient because of your missed appointment. your 25 dollar fee won't cover how much they would have gotten had they seen someone else. i guess, i understand you had difficult getting there but in this case it is your problem, if you make an appt you need to keep it.

I personally have never missed but I am just lucky because I can totally see how it i spossible. I can all sides to this so I am kind of on the fence! But i am a nurse and I am running late from time to time usually because I got stuck with a patient who needed the extra time, and I appreciate when my other patients are patient! But i used to show up early for ped appt's until I got stuck time after time waiting and waiting and waiting, never any appology to me and my young son for leaving stuck in a room for over an hour, so now I hope I can make it on time but if i am late i would like for one of them to say something about it!

I didn't read the other responses, but did read your whole question with update. My thought: I wouldn't want to go to the office where they don't want me. Find a different pediatrican - one that knows that life isn't perfect and not everything happens in a perfect timely manner.

Wow! This is news to me, but if it's their policy (which from some of the other posts it seems to be a common policy) then it's their policy.
You wrote that "it wasn't like I just DIDN'T go... I really planned to but
I guess sometimes time is not on our side and by the time we would have got to the office we would have been late" ???!!! Did you still call?
If not, then you "just didn't go"--planning on it or not. It looks the same to them--a missed appointment. Hope you can find another pediatrician that you're happier with. Best of luck!

A doctor has the right not to accept or to stop seeing patients, but if they stop seeing a patient for any reason (non-payment, missed appointments, not following doctors orders, ect.) - they do need to send you a letter & it should be sent certified mail so that they have proof they sent it & you received it. Also, in that letter should be a date that service will no longer be provided (say 15 or 30 days) so that you have time to find another doctor & still get the medical care you need during the transition time.

Doctors do look at calling on your way in as a missed appointment - because they can't let someone else take the slot that really needed it. As in a child who is having issues that just popped up & may have had to go to the ER instead of the office because no one had an open time slot. That is why they ask for the 24 hour notice - so that when they get the calls as the walk in the doors at 9 am begging to be seen they know the times to place the patients or direct them to the ER. Personnaly, I've been directed to the ER more then once because the doctors couldn't fit my kid in for a high fever... ends up she had a massive ear infection & ended up loosing her hearing for almost two month from it. Sad thing is, she had just been in for her yearly check-up 3 days before & had nice pretty pink healthy ears.

Doctors offices can be forgiving, but you have missed 2 appointments in 6 mo. Most people don't have 2 appointments scheduled in 6 mo time, unless it is for a little bitty baby or kids have been sick & doing follow-ups.

So you know, I have done the working full time & going to school full time... I worked from 8-4:30 M-F and when to school from 6-10 M,T & Th, but I still managed to find a way w/ just my car to get my kids (all 3 of them) to all their appointments. Which includes a respiratory specialist, rheuatology specialist, basic doctor, and dental appointments, plus WIC appointments - and none of them are in the same building! It can be hard to manage everything, but as parents we need to find a way - even if that means we get off the freeway & find away around the blockade in the road. (And I mean that in more then one way.)

I wish you luck in finding another doctor for your son - hopefully the new one will be easier for you to get to. Take care!

UPDATED: I forgot to say - both my daughter's specialist have 10 min late restrictions (if you are more then 10 min late you will not be seen & will have to reschedule - no acceptions) & the pediatrition's office & dental office both has a 15 min late restirctions (but they will make acceptions if you call ahead).

Did you call each time to tell them you weren't going to make it? If not, then yes, you are at fault. When you don't come and don't call, it impacts everyone else visiting that day as well as people with really sick kids who are trying to get squeezed into the day's schedule.

If you called each time to tell them you weren't going to make it -IN ADVANCE -then that is a bit strange, but appointment times are there to be adhered to.

I think almost every clinic has this policy. I guess I dont feel like it is unreasonable as long as you know ahead of time that this is there policy.

Well, I know that's how most medical offices operate. You booked two appointments and then didn't call or show up. Those were two spots that I'm sure many sick little children's parents would've loved to have had. But instead, those spots turned into wasted time that helped no one. I personally think you need to take doctor's appointments a little more seriously. It is not only your time that is involved, but the time of the nurses and doctor as well. If you can't make it, call as soon as you realize that and turn the spot loose for someone who needs it and CAN make it.

Sorry but I agree with most of the others here. Missing an appointment without a good reason is not just inconvenient for them, but it causes them to lose money and prevents someone else from seeing the doctor. I have found that most times if I am running late and I call they will get me in - despite a strict 15 minute rule - I just might have to let the person after me go first. If you showed up for your appointment and the doctor just didn't show up you'd probably be upset too, right? Twice in 6 months is a lot - unless you've had like, 20 appointments in that time - if they booted you after twice in 6 years I still wouldn't be shocked.

If you did not call, then no I don't think the pediatrician is being unreasonable. This is a very common practice among all pediatrician offices.
If you had done it once before, then you should have planned better to not do it again.

Two thoughts. First is the doctor's side, second, what you as a patient can do for your rights.

I can assure you, the doctor's office is not getting that money from the insurance company. It is illegal. Also, visits cost much more than $25 -- usually $37.50 is allowed by our insurance company, and they're pretty tight. Usually the fee stuff is posted in the stuff you signed at the first appointment. I have worked in several different offices, and given the time of year, and the popularity of the doctor, they probably had 3 patients who would have loved the appointment if they had enough time to reschedule it. We have been with our doctor for several years now, and are usually early just so this kind of thing doesn't happen, and we still got the customary warning when I missed an appointment recently. With the demand for good doctors, that's how things go. I'm sorry you lost your doctor.

With that being said, what I would recommend is go in, in person, and meet with the office manager, and explain your position and see if they won't give you another chance. Usually the policy is 3 missed appointments, so they should give you another chance. If you can't do that, at least call and find out who the office manager is and write a letter. If you don't hear back, you can send a letter to the doctor personally. It may or may not actually get to the doctor, but if it doesn't, you probably don't want to go to that office anyway. It sounds like you really like your doctor, so I hope you can work something out.

You are an adult.... you should be on time for whatever you are doing. PLAN your time more wisely.

Being late is a sign of disrespecting someone else and their time. Time=$$

Everyone who knows me knows if I am late, I am probably dead somewhere because being on time is important.

I dropped a friend because she would want to meet for lunch or something and routinely show up 20-30 minutes late. The last time, I waited 15 minutes, left the restaurant. When she called with her excuses, I told her I had no patience for that behavior and no time to speak with her.

LEARN to manage your time and BE on time.

Hey I.,

Thats an odd practice - I haven't ever heard of an office doing that before. However, as a a private practice they have the right to hold policies like this one.

And you're positive you did not miss the appointments? Did you call and cancel too close to appointment time? Our pediatrician requires 24 hour notice of cancellation or we are charged a fee. Also - do you still have the paperwork you signed when you first joined this practice? Because more than likely, there is a page in there that states their intentions and policies on late patients, canceled appointments and no-shows. It costs them money and although it sucks, there isn't much you can do about it - especially if you signed all the paperwork accepting terms like that.

If you think there was a misunderstanding, and also that not only were you not given the chance to pay the fee and continue seeing them - but you also never received any notification in the mail of their intentions to discontinue seeing you - I would write a letter to your pediatrician himself explaining the situation and asking to still be seen, if that is what you want.

Although. Is that what you want? Are they nice? Sometimes there can be a stigma that gets attached to you in situations like this, where even if they did have you back, you'd be a little ostracized.

If it were me I'd request address someone with more authority than the receptionist or a nurse (try to nurse practitioner or the pediatrician himself) and let them know you would like to continue coming in.

No fun! Just try to remember though to be tasteful and kind when you are talking and writing to them. No one wants to be in that situation and it just makes it worse to call in and chew someone out, or write a nasty letter or a tense email. Look at it from a business standpoint and try to keep your emotions at bay. Burning bridges never helped anyone.

Good luck!

My ex owns a busy veterinary clinic. It is a total pain when people don't show up. Not only because of missed revenue, but because they don't know whether to put people in a room ahead of you or wait for you, etc. Nothing you can do about it now anyway besides find a new doctor. Did you pay the $25 fee by the way? If not that's even more reason to drop you.

I guess the real question is why would you want to continue the relationship with a practice that you don't agree with the rules. There are plenty of other offices I am sure that would be happy to have you as a patient. Perhaps it is time to seek out another office and Dr that better meets with your philosophy. Right or wrong who cares I say find a practice that works better for you.

I.,

I feel you're being unreasonable too. My clinic doesn't have strict cancellation policies, nor do they have particularly strict time limits before an appointment is considered a no-show. It is because of this leniency that I wait sometimes up to an hour before getting to see our ped with my 22-month-old. That kind of wait makes me pretty unhappy, not to mention how irritable it makes my son and I won't even tell you how happy it makes me that I then get to expose my sick kid to an hours worth of other illnesses wandering around the waiting room. I showed up on time and I want the clinic to show they value my time and my schedule as well. If I weren't a SAHM and had a job outside the home, I would have to take an entire morning off from work to take my kid to a well baby check even though the actual appointment is about 15 minutes long. It is because of these waits I will likely switch clinics at some point.

So yeah, not cool to cancel two appointments in six months. I completely know things come up and how hard getting out of the house and staying organized is with a child. Still, once should have been enough of a wake-up call to convince you to leave early, schedule during slower hours, etc. And it's not the end of the world but if you have an under year old child, you will want to find a new primary caregiver right away and develop a good working relationship with him/her.

I know you got a ton of answers but I had to post! I would find a new doc. Yes, time is money, etc. But they already impose the $25 fee. Life DOES happen and cause things like missed appointments. If you have a habit of constantly being late and missing appointments, you already know you need to work and this. But if this was just a case of life, you tried your best, you paid their penalty ($25) and everyone should move on. Cancelling you does seem harsh. I would say this isn't the kind of practice I would want to work with- move on knowing that you SHOULD, not that you HAVE TO!

hi -
I read through your post and update. It must be difficult to time everything with only one car. Couple of thoughts:
* maybe try to look for a pediatricians office that has flexible hours (there are a couple in my area that are open on weekends or have 1-2 days with later hours).
* Also (just a thought) I don't know your financial situation, but i know that in my area there are transportation services to take parents/children to doctor appointments.

Good luck

I've got to say it sounds a tad harsh to not have warned you. I would have at least given you three strikes before saying you were out.

It's unusual, but I have to respect the doc.......as long as he takes his on time patients within 15 minutes of their arrival.

Just FYI - Insurance won't pay for missed appointments.

I think that was harsh if they didn't call and tell you to pay the fee and warn you that you might not be seen in the future.
I would find another doctor and make sure you schedule the appointments when you can for sure be there. Not at time when traffic is heavy etc.
Take it as a lesson learned.
Victoria

My dentist office did this to me... I called and cancelled my 1st missed appointment the day before and we rescheduled. My next appointment I missed because my car wouldn't start, seriously. The battery was dead! My husband was at work and there was no one to jump my car. So I called and asked to reschedule and they told me if I didn't make it to this appointment, I could not make another 1 for a year! I was not too happy to say the least. Luckily though, my kids have an amazing ped, he has been their dr. since birth. I have been late and missed appts., but always called on my way to let them know and there has never been an issue. I am sorry that you are having to go thru this. I know it is hard to keep track of time with kids. I start getting my kids ready about an hour before any appts to make sure we are on time. And I always leave atleast 20 mins before appts. I have 3 kids and myself to get ready so an hour before is perfect.

Hi I. - it looks like you have plenty of input but I just wanted to tell you that I think it's weird the pediatrician cancelled you. Truthfully, it is probably the administrator and not the doc who actually made the decision. Docs are usually fairly unaware of decisions that their staff makes.

I would move on and find another practice. The doc can be great but if staff is terrible, it makes working with the practice just awful.

Definetly UNREASONABLE, especially with babies things come up. Change doctors and change FAST!!! I've never heard of any doctor's office with a 15 minute restriction. If you know your running late, for whatever reason, call the ped, apologize and let them know when you will make it!!! It seems like a very rude office and you have to remember that YOU are the customer!!!! Good luck!

wow you got alot of posts, i dont have time to look thru all. but here is my thought.....time is money to most businesses and some people are very strict with their time. also you said you missed 2 appts in 6 months but how many appts did you make in 6 mo's, just curious. anyway with that being said i think the office should have just charged you and maybe gave you a warning, i have never heard of anyone refusing to see a baby due to 2 appts missed, but hey who am i. but anyway if they dont want to see you or are being rude about it, why would you want to go back to that office anyway, be glad they just cut you off instead of seeing you and being rude or short with your visits. anyway find a better doctor in my opinion its not worth the worry or anxiety. good luck

You are being unreasonable. You are a grown woman and need to make sure you are at appointments you set up. When you don't show that takes up a valuable appointment time they could have given to a sick child or another child. They lost money when you did not show up and $25 does not nearly cover it. You made the appointment and need to be there. Most pediatrician offices have a similar policy. Make sure next time you make an appointment it is at a time you can be there. You have no grounds to complain when you were the one that was irresponsible.

Outside of the real question here, one thing you can gain from this is never assume anything. I have never missed an appointment but I have made an appointment for the same day because there was a risk that my daughter was exposed to strep. I asked the receptionist before making it that if I find out the other kid does not have it (he was going to the doctor that morning to get tested) can I call and cancel. Just cover yourself in all apsects you can think of in anything you do. Do not assume or be niave.

I can see how a doctor's office may have a hard time working with people who don't show for appointments and some even charge for it (my dentist charges $100!) For a Pediatrician's office however, this is totally unreasonable, they must not be a very good office. Anyone who knows children know that things come up and things happen when kids are involved. I would venture to say that if you child needed to get in immediately (like today) you would be put off for a couple of days suffering with a sick kid instead of accommodating your child's needs. Sounds like you are better off finding a new office, they should be dealing with adults not kids.

They are being a little bit nit-picky. If that is they way they roll, then you're better off finding a better one. I for one, never go to Pediatricians. I've fired every one I've ever gone to. I've never found one I liked. I take my kids to our family doctor, even my newborn. I like them a lot and trust all my kids with them. They've been good to us. Good luck!

You are better off not going there anymore anyway.

they are right. it is rude not to show or call. $25 is even less then my doc charges. I would drop you as well

I honestly do not think that they are being unreasonable. they have set times and most offices (our pediatrician does) have policies stating that a no show will result in a $25 fee and multiple no shows means that they will no longer see you as a patient. If it was just one no show I would think paying the fine and apologizing would be sufficient, but more than one is a nuisance on any office.

I wouldn't be too upset about it. Just find a new pediatrician and make sure to be there on time or call a day or two before if you know you won't make it. It does seem a little harsh to me though. I have 3 kids and sometimes things just don't go as planned. If I'm running late or stuck in traffic I call and they are really good to fit me in later or another day. You need to find an office that is more lenient on their tardy policy if you foresee this happening again. I anticipate it will since you only have one car. That makes things tricky. Good luck.

In almost 7 years and 2 kids, I've NEVER missed or even been more than maybe 5 minutes late to a doctor's appointment of any kind. Although I've never heard of being kicked out of a medical practice, I guess it is their choice to see who they want. If they feel you are wasting their time and money, I guess I don't blame them.

Wow, I have seen some rude responses here... some getting on their high horses how they are perfect and never miss an appointment... wonder if there is a trophy for that?

I, for one, have missed appointments. I think you are right about the $25 fee and that they are being unreasonable. We have only one way to get to anywhere around my area... (look up Hwy 98 in my area, ask the locals). It's that ridiculous. So I know the struggles. I have sat in traffic for over two hours just to pick up my kids after work because of an accident. I think there needs to be a little leniency with parents and small babies... I know that there are some out here that will gasp at that notion, but I also believe that the $25 fee is fair. I have also waited over an hour to see a specialist, if I failed to see this person (even due to the wait time) I would have been reported to my First Sergeant and Commander that I missed the appointment! So much for the fee, right? Or fairness (?)... Sigh.

Good luck with finding a new one.

This is a very normal practice for doctors' offices. When you don't call to cancel and miss your appointment, these are appointments which could have been used by other families (obviously the office loses money on the no-show appointments). If you would call and let them know that you are running late (or not coming in at all) then this would likely not happen. They take dismissal from practices seriously and only have to offer "emergency" services for 30 days after the dismissal.