Avg time with patients

[IMres85]

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Just curious what everyone’s average time with patient is. Im trying to get better about spending more time with patients as I generally have everything squared away and a plan before entering the room.

Just curious for specifically - new hemes (simple IDA), new onc, follow up benign simple hemes, and follow up onc visits (assuming no profession/change in treatment )

 

[gutonc]

Just curious what everyone’s average time with patient is. Im trying to get better about spending more time with patients as I generally have everything squared away and a plan before entering the room.

Just curious for specifically - new hemes (simple IDA), new onc, follow up benign simple hemes, and follow up onc visits (assuming no profession/change in treatment )

Like time in the room or schedule time for the visit?

Room time: 10 min tops for pretty much anything that's not a change in treatment or EOL stuff for a follow up. 20 min for new hemes. 30-40 for new onc depending on how complete the workup was and how competent the referring doc is.

Schedule time: 20 for follow ups, 40 for new hemes and transfers of care, 60 for new oncs

Actual time spent on the case: 11-120 minutes.

 

[MD46]

It varies and each patient is different, on the first visit I can gauge who wants more time and who wants less. I use the sticky note feature in EPIC to make notes for myself for future visits.

New Onc patients, i always have 45mins , New heme 20-30mins, followups 10-15 mins. Some take less some more, so through out the day, times pretty much avg out.

Some of the heme patients with fibromyalgia, POTS, EDS spectrum issues have many other things to talk about so some times even if its not relevant I listen and spend more time.

 

[gutonc]

Some of the heme patients with fibromyalgia, POTS, EDS spectrum issues have many other things to talk about so some times even if its not relevant I listen and spend more time.

Hard pass on that bulls***. Whatever naturopath or (dys)functional medicine charlatan that convinced them they had that made up nonsense can deal with that. If they decide that they don't want to come back to see me because I "wasn't listening", bullet dodged.

 

[osprey099]

New and follow up heme: 15 min appt. Spent 5 mins with patient

New Onc: 30 min appt. Spent 20-30 mins with patient

Follow up Onc: 15 min appt. Spent 10-15 mins with patient

 

[bobsmith]

Im trying to get better about spending more time with patients

But what's your goal here?

Are you trying to slow down so that your life is more sustainable, are you trying to build more rapport with pts, not be seen as a rushing doctor, etc?

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

Some of the heme patients with fibromyalgia, POTS, EDS spectrum issues have many other things to talk about so some times even if its not relevant I listen and spend more time.

I usually end up getting fired by those patients (although not intentionally) - just noticed GutOnc seems to employ the same strategy and now I feel a lot better about it.

 

[gutonc]

I usually end up getting fired by those patients (although not intentionally) - just noticed GutOnc seems to employ the same strategy and now I feel a lot better about it.

I don't try to get fired. But I set boundaries.

"Dr. Witchdoctor, BSN, LAc, ND sent you to me for your MCV of 100.2 with an otherwise completely normal CBC. I'm going to do the $5000 lab workup and maybe even a bone marrow, just to make sure I get my pound of flesh since you're happy paying that idiot $1000 a month cash for IV vitamin C, and once I confirm what I knew going in, that there's nothing wrong with you, I'm going to discharge you from clinic...and if you'd like to leave before all that gets done, that's cool too."

 

[IMres85]

New and follow up heme: 15 min appt. Spent 5 mins with patient

New Onc: 30 min appt. Spent 20-30 mins with patient

Follow up Onc: 15 min appt. Spent 10-15 mins with patient

This is exactly how I do it really. Some of these new hemes literally take 5 minutes and I almost feel guilty they’re so quick but really I can ask enough history in that time. I probably should get better about just giving a few minutes for chit chat but my schedule can be so busy - average 28-30 patients k schedule - generally 24 show and there’s generally 6-7 new hemes and 2-4 new oncs

 

[IMres85]

But what's your goal here?

Are you trying to slow down so that your life is more sustainable, are you trying to build more rapport with pts, not be seen as a rushing doctor, etc?

The latter.

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

I don’t think there is a solid way to schedule 30pt a day and not come off as a “rushing doctor”… you are one!

 

[gutonc]

I don’t think there is a solid way to schedule 30pt a day and not come off as a “rushing doctor”… you are one!

100%. Unless you're working 12h days, you just don't have enough time to build that rapport. That's just fine for some physicians (and some patients), but if that's not what you want, you need to make changes.

ETA: And I don't mean you need to increase your clinic efficiency. I mean you need to see fewer patients or extend your clinic day. If neither of those are options for you, you're stuck with what you've got for now.