Good evening @dbeshears1 and @ray666. I am very interested in the discussion you two are having regarding the timing issue. In my life, I have usually been regarded kindly and given sufficient time with medical professionals. The most outstanding has been my orthopedic surgeon. He always made sure we had covered everything. He also came to my room in the evening after reverse shoulder surgery to make sure everything was o.k. for my first overnight. He personally walked me down to the imaging room when I was telling him about the pain and discomfort that was still in my arm after the shoulder surgery. He said, "Chris we are going to check out your neck." He didn't just tell me to make an appointment.....he took me to the imaging center. He personally handled the insurance company when they denied coverage for shoulder surgery. I always have a picture of him rubbing his head as he was trying to secure coverage.

Now that is a bit much. However, he is with a very large healthcare facility. It appears he has just set different boundaries.

Turn the page now and think back to your follow-up messages on the portal. Do they list the amount of time that is allowed for your visit or the amount of time that was used for your visit? I recall being rather surprised that a new endocrinologist at Mayo gave me an hour for an osteoporosis consultation.

Do you think the insurance companies have established these "time" limits?

I also notice that in order to make sure that patients are on time, some schedule their appointments with a 15-minute lead. Does that help both the patient and the doctor be more likely to stay on time?

Here is another way I try to not become a time disruption. I compose a list of updates on my presenting issues......past and present. I give a copy to the physician and one to my life partner if he is with me. That becomes our agenda. My PCP appreciates and looks forward to having this worksheet.

Just some Sunday evening thoughts. May you both have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

Just some ideas. Thanks for opening this discussion.