Waiting Room Hack

Waiting rooms can, surprisingly, be complicated.
It doesn't always seem that way... I mean, you walk in, check in with reception, have a seat, and they call you when it is your appointment time (or when the doctor is available to see you).
Sounds straightforward....
But it isn't always that cut and dry.

Doctors often run late. Sometimes they will have a patient that requires more time, or perhaps they have to deal with an emergency, or are just lagging behind on paperwork.
Sometimes though, if there is a lack of communication within an office, things can get confusing.

I was forgotten today. I walked in, checked in with one receptionist, then found a seat. Due to the layout of the office, I had to find a seat that was not directly visible from the reception desk.

**When finding a seat in a busy office, always try to find a seat within the view of reception**

Somehow, I was missed.

But how do you know you have been forgotten instead of simply experiencing a doctor running late? Asking reception is really frowned upon, especially since they have no real control over whether or not a doctor is running on time, and being asked by several patients 'is it my turn yet?' can get annoying very quickly.

So - here is my medical office life hack:

First: get yourself a seat within the view of reception. Make good eye contact when you first come in. Make a joke or compliment or something that will make them remember you.

Second: if it seems as though you may have been forgotten, change seats. Stand up, stretch a bit, change where you are sitting - make sure reception notices you. If nothing else, they may look to remind themselves of who you are and which doctor you are waiting for.

Third: if you are almost certain you have been forgotten, ask the receptionist a different question. Ask where the washroom is, or if you need a key to use the washroom, and remind them of your name 'in case they call your name while you are in the washroom'.

Pay attention to those around you as well. Try and make guesses as to appointment times, who is seeing the same doctor as you, and see if anyone else has been waiting for approximately the same amount of time.

It is never fun to be forgotten. It is, at best, an inconvenience. At worst, it can be dangerous.
I have been forgotten a few times. Some of the worst have been in the emergency room. If I was moved to a different room or if it was shift change, it is VERY easy to fall through the cracks.
Again, you don't always have to be that person complaining at the desk that things are taking too long, but taking a little stretch or a walk or engaging in passive conversation will remind them of your existence. They may even ask: 'have you been seen yet?' Or 'who were you supposed to be seeing today?'.

It can be a delicate balance between waiting patiently for your turn and being completely left in the dark.