Do you ever feel rushed when you visit the doctor? Fifteen minute doctor visits may be to blame, but there’s other factors at play.
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Introduction
Ever walk out of a doctor’s appointment feeling like you barely got a word in edgewise? You’re not alone. In today’s healthcare system, it can feel like you’re just another number on a conveyor belt. You came in hoping for a heart-to-heart about your health, but instead, you got a drive-thru style experience. Annoying, right? But before you write off your doc, let’s take a peek behind the scenes and try to figure out what’s going on.
Let’s get one thing straight: It’s not that doctors don’t want to spend time with you. Trust me, most physicians went into medicine because we actually care about people. Whether it’s a weird rash or unexplained headaches, it’s literally our job to help you with your medical issues. But the harsh reality is that the system we work in is built for speed, not deep conversation.
Note: This blog post is the companion post to my TikTok video below, which was viewed hundreds of thousands of times. It’s written with an eye towards the general public.
Understanding the Doctor’s Perspective
Again — most doctors really wish that they had more time with each patient! One of the big problems is that in many health care systems, a basic doctor’s visit is allotted 15 minutes. You’d think this is enough time to have a substantive conversation, but here’s the kicker: that time isn’t just for chatting.
In that bite sized chunk of time, a physician has to review the patient’s chart, listen to their concerns, diagnose the issue, develop a treatment plan, and document everything—oh, and maybe grab a sip of water if they’re lucky. So your conversation is just one part of the visit from the doctor’s perspective.
The 15-Minute Shuffle
Let’s break it down and put you into the shoes of your physician…
You’re a doctor in the middle of your clinic day, and you’re already running 20 minutes behind. Your assistant knocks on your door and lets you know that the next patient is ready in the exam room. Mentally, you start the clock: 15 minutes. You start by reviewing their chart to refresh your memory on their medical history. You’re a fast reader, but your computer is a little slow and it takes a minute for your patient’s chart to pull up. Before you know it, a few minutes have gone by. You check the time with a frown and then rush into the patient’s room.
You switch into listening mode as your patient unloads their list of issues —always more than one, and often more than two. Your analytical brain kicks in as you try to figure out what’s going on. At the same time, you’re mentally taking note of the tests, meds, and referrals that are going to be needed to take care of all the issues.
Despite the traffic jam of brainwork, you keep focused and are able to come up with a satisfactory plan in about 5-10 minutes.
After the patient leaves, you hustle back to your desk so the nursing assistant can fill the room with the next patient. Now it’s time to document everything you discussed, update the patient’s medical records, and write any necessary orders. Before you know it, you’re running another five minutes late and are almost a half hour behind schedule!
As you furiously type everything into the medical record, your medical assistant knocks on your door and says that Mr. Smith called and is pretty sick — can they add him onto your schedule? With a defeated sigh, you OK the add-on and rush off to see your next patient.
Feeling stressed? So are we!
The Time-Crunch’s Impact on Patient Care
Now, let’s do some quick math. Studies show that for every minute your doctor spends talking to you, they likely spend about two minutes on documentation and other admin tasks. So, in your 15-minute appointment, your doctor might really only have five minutes to actually chat with you. They need the rest of the time to satisfy the electronic medical record system. It’s not that they don’t care—it’s that they’re drowning in paperwork.
This time-crunch isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can have real consequences. Important details might get overlooked, you might not get the chance to fully express your concerns, and your doctor may have to make decisions with limited information. It’s a system that often leaves both parties feeling unsatisfied—like leaving a restaurant still hungry after paying for a three-course meal.
I’ve heard from many patients who feel like their doctor isn’t listening or is rushing through the appointment. And while it’s easy to blame the doctor, the reality is that they’re often just as frustrated as you are. They want to spend more time with you, but the system doesn’t always allow for that.
External Pressures: Overbooked Schedules and Unexpected Issues
Now, toss into the mix the fact that most doctors’ schedules are jam-packed. It’s not uncommon for a doctor to see 20 to 30 patients in a single day. Some see many more. And that’s not even counting the emergencies or complex cases that can throw the entire schedule off. When you’re working with such tight margins, even a small delay can have a domino effect, forcing doctors to rush through appointments to catch up.
This isn’t just frustrating for patients—it’s downright exhausting for doctors. Many of them are dealing with burnout, a condition that’s becoming all too common in the medical profession. When you’re constantly under pressure to move quickly and see as many patients as possible, it’s hard to maintain the level of care that both doctors and patients expect.
Is This the Ideal Scenario?
Obviously, this isn’t the ideal way to practice medicine. Doctors and patients alike are trapped in a system that prioritizes quantity over quality. It’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to the doctors who want to provide the best care possible. But until the system changes, this is the reality we’re stuck with.
You might be thinking, “Isn’t there a better way?” The answer is yes, but it’s not simple. The changes that need to happen involve a fundamental shift in how healthcare is delivered and reimbursed. It’ll take improvements to artificial intelligence, a fix to the doctor shortage, and a stop to the endless cuts to Medicare reimbursement.
But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. As a patient, there are steps you can take to make the most of your time with your doctor.
What you can do as a patient
Here’s a short list of suggestions to make the most of your doctor visit:
- Come prepared with a list of your symptoms and questions
- Discuss the most important issue first
- If you know there’s a lot to cover, request a longer visit
- Be honest and direct about your concerns
- Stay patient and remember that everyone is likely stressed
With this approach, both you and your physician will make the most of your time together.
Conclusion
Now you understand a bit more about why your doctor visits seem a little bit like a conveyer belt stuck on overdrive.
At the end of the day, the goal is to improve the doctor-patient relationship and ensure that everyone gets the care they deserve. It’s not a perfect system, but with a little effort and understanding, we can make it work better for everyone involved.
As a patient, you have the power to advocate for yourself and make the most of your appointments. And as a society, we have the power to push for changes that will improve the healthcare system as a whole. It won’t be easy, but it’s worth the effort.
Let’s work together to create a system that values quality over quantity, where doctors have the time they need to provide the best care possible, and where patients feel heard and respected.
Daniel Shin, MD
The Darwinian Doctor
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