21 Comments
On average, how long do you spend at the clinic for appointments with your main T1D healthcare provider (including the time you spend waiting)?
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Less than 30 minutes, but close to it. The reason is that with my TIR at 80-83%, there is not much to change. “Nibbling around the edges,” as my endo described it. He checks my feet, my heart, my breathing, and my eyes. We may discuss some of my frustrations, but generally I am out of the office in 30 minutes.
I spend more time waiting for the phlebotomist than I do talking with my MD.
I would guess that my appointment, in office with the Endocrinologist, run 45 mins. to 1 hour. My appointments have been video since March, 2020. When I go to the office, I usually wait about 30 mins.
Since the pandemic, the appointments have been via video. I can continue working until the doctor is ready. It is nice but since I have a new Endo it would be nice to at least have one in-person appointment. They require travel, about 30-45 minutes, and then waiting in the office 15-30 minutes, and travel back home.
I would say right at 30 minutes, including wait, nurse and doctor. I do pretty well, don’t have many questions, so there’s not a lot to do at my appointments.
I answered 30 minutes to an hour. I almost always prepare questions. I’m ok if I
need to wait a little longer- things happen. Maybe the next person up has to wait a little longer if the doctor takes more time with me. I am grateful that I am receiving great care.
My answer, 1 – 1 1/2 hours, is pre-COVID. More recently it has been 1/2 – 1 hour.
Roughly, an hour or a little more. My endo has been caring for me since 1996, I/we value the relationship. I do, however, have to travel 2 hours to the office and 2 hours home again!
I answered 1 -1/12 hours. Which is why I really like the telephone appts. I can continue to work at my desk until the Endo calls and we get things done quite quickly. I upload my T-Connect data (which includes my Dexcom data) every month so things like TIR etc are already there. I really only need to see the Endo to keep the Rx’s active
It varies dramatically, but that usually depends on the number of diabetic patients to be seen, how many doctors and nurses are working on that specific day, and whether any further investigations need to be carried out.
Yesterday, for instance, I ws at the clinic for more than 3 hours, but part of this was due to how early the patient transport service got me to the diabetes centre, and how long I had to wait to be picked up again.
Normally, my appointments take a little over 1.5-2 hours.
If needed, she spends whatever time is needed. If everything is going ok, we only need 20-30 minutes. Sometimes it takes an hour for recalculating and resetting my basals. She even calls me from her home f I’m time to time when she’s concerned about something. I really, really like her.
In person appointments take approximately 1 hr with additional time waiting and travel. Telehealth appointments are 30 minutes. All lab work is scheduled before the appointment and pump/CGM data is available thru t-connect. If I have specific questions/concerns I send her a MyChart message before the appointment to let her know. We respect each others time.
if trying to decide how much time willing to incur for physician, need to add transportation time. 30 – 60 appt plus travel equates to 2 – 4 hours with travel
Including parking, waiting, appointment, and going to lab for blood work, 1.5 to 2.
Except for my first visit with my current endo two years ago, which was in person, all of my appointments have been video visits. Everything has been going well and my video appointments usually take less than 30 min.
My visits are limit to 20 minutes as per Medicare mandates. I guess if I have a problem they’ll give more time.
I haven’t seen my endocrinologist in person for 1.1/2 year. Now I have an in person appointment for January next year. During that time I was able yo see the nurse practitioner in person one time.
Luckily I’ve been at this for 50 years so I can manage most problems on my own. If I call or email them they do answer right away though.
“Other” because I have had only telephone visits for the past year. My next visit will be the first in-person visit since changing endocrinologists in 2020.
Usually (not covid times) about 1/2 hour with a diabetes nurse educator then up to 45 minutes with the endo. He is amazing and I am SO lucky. He really listens, respects me and my opinions, answers any questions, reviews data and blood work, etc. Is always positive and although he sees many patients he is really “present” during the time he is with me.
Due to insurance I had to switch to a new endo this year. I don’t know if COVID has anything to do with it but my wait time has been very short at all 3 visits Ive had this year, with maybe 1 or 2 other people in the waiting room. The first visit I had was longer but the last two were maybe 15 minutes. At the previous place I went to the waits were always much longer but the visit with the endo or NP never felt rushed.
Too long. What’s an appointment for?!!
Corresponding on line with my health providers saves me a lot of time. If I have an in person appt, I always try to arrive an hour early, in case of traffic jams or lines at checkin. Sometimes arriving early gets me moved ahead for a visit. Accessing my medical providers’ secure online website in the past could be very VERY frustrating when my WiFi signal was weak or “busy” especially in the late afternoons! I try to make cell phone calls in mornings, likewise.