Wait time at the OB/GYN

I'm so thrilled bc I just got my BFP!!! Due date is in mid-October.

I had a baby in July 2008 and used North Shore OB/GYN then (and since then too). I liked all the doctors, especially Dr. Rothstein but the wait time is ridiculous! I hated having to wait 20 minutes in the waiting room and then another 20-40 minutes in the exam room. And toward the end of my first pregnancy, it would be for like a 5-7 minute exam!

So...am thinking about switching to another practice and was just curious: how is the wait time at your OB's office? Is an hour long wait every time the normal now?

Also...would you mind sharing where you go? I'm mostly interested in western Nassau and a doctor that delivers at NSUH. Thank you!!!

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I used to go to a practice where the wait time was one hour +.

For this pregnancy, I switched practices. I am now going to Dr. Plancher in Garden City. He delivers at Winthrop. He is AMAZING!! The wait time is no longer than 5 or 10 minutes in the waiting room and no longer than 5 minutes in the exam room. He has a great bedside manner and is very calming. He gets right on the phone with you if you call with a quesiton or concern... no matter how small. I called to get blood test results and a nurse got on the phone and went over them with me. A few days later, he called himself to go over them with me and to see if I had any questions. And this was for normal test results! It wasn't even to go over a problem (thankfully!).

Highly recommend!!

Good luck!

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

Congrats on your BFP!! At my old practice, it was always a 45 minute wait (in the waiting room) before all appointments whether OB or GYN, and then usually an additional wait for the doctor. When I went for my betas it was "only" 15-20 minute wait.

I recently switched practices. For my only appt so far I had a 30 minute wait until I was actually seen by the doctor but they let me give my urine sample while I was waiting, etc. The wait was also longer because one doctor was running very late so the other doctors were squeezing in her patients in the meantime. One patient (whose doctor wasn't there, but who was being fit in with someone else) was flipping out that she had to wait 40 minutes so I'm hoping that is considered an unusually long wait at my new practice!

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I wait no longer than 20 minutes, and that's only if I'm early.

The nurses in the office do everything and basically go through everything before the doctor comes in the room. I wait for him for probably, at the most, 5 minutes.

They have a very efficient system in there. If I have an appointment at 12, I'm out of there by 12:30 and I don't feel rushed.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I used to go to a practice where I could wait over an hour in the waiting room and then another half an hour in the exam room. There were a few times I was there for 3 hours. I got fed up with it, so I switched. My new dr. I have never waited more than 20 minutes and I am always in and out of the office in an hour or less.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

my original ob/gyn the wait was around 45 minutes on average..
my last one was private practice and the wait was an hour to TWO hours! needless to say i havent gone back there...
my current doctor i have never waited more than 15 minutes!! most appointments i wait 5 minutes or less! i now see Dr. Cliff Goldstein at 833 Northern in Great Neck. He delivers at LIJ

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I don't understand why Dr offices do that. Why make so many people's appts for the same time? I think it's rude. If I move things around to make sure to be on time for my appointment, I feel like the doctors should have the same respect and schedule me when they can actually see me. Unfortunately I feel like no matter where you go this will be an issue. Currently, my doctor will usually keep me waiting about 30 minutes in waiting room and then another 15 in office if it's a morning appointment. Evenings are the WORST (prob because that's when everybody gets off work) and I'll likely be waiting well over an hour.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

OK you may not want to consider my practice b/c they deliver at Winthrop...but I use Complete Women's Healthcare - they are on Stewart Ave in Garden City. My dr. is Dr. Matthew Dilena...others in the practice are LoPresti and Nadell...love them all - esp Dr. Dilena - nicest and cutest dr. around
I have never waited in the waiting room more than 15 minutes...and in the exam room never a wait at all - I want to say 5 minutes tops. I love this about this practice. They also have GREAT hours...DH loved coming to every appt and we live 45 mins away from the office so we went at night always...their last appt on some days is 8pm.
If you are ok with switching hospitals - I HIGHLY recommend. I can't count on my hands and feet how many people I know go to this practice...seriously everyone I know uses them.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

My last OB-GYN had very little wait time but I didn't like her and couldn't stand the other OB-GYN I saw at her practice.

So I switched before getting pg, and at my new office, the wait time is between 30-60 minutes, but I like the doctors a lot. So I'm sticking with them, but it's still not ideal.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

My doctor's office usually has only a 5-10 min wait in the waiting room. The doctor is usually in about 5 mins after the nurse finishes. I've only had a long wait there twice...once because another Dr ended up having to do an emergency c-section and the other doctors were trying to fit his patients in as well, and the other was last night - not really sure why the wait, but after they saw me sitting there for about 20 mins the staff started looking into what was causing the delay.

ETA: Congrats on your BFP!!!

Message edited 2/8/2011 5:39:22 PM.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I tend to wait a while at my ob/gyn office. It is pretty annoying.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

I never wait long at all at my practice. 5-10 minutes in the waiting room and then maybe 5 min in the exam room.

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

Hi - I just launched a website for patients to check and report on wait times at the doctors offices and Emergency Rooms from any web enabled device or using an iPhone app.
Please check out http://www.thedocclock.com
Thank you
Sherwin Krug
Founder/CEO

Re: Wait time at the OB/GYN

Congrats on your BFP!

I go to Dr. Terrani in Garden City and I never wait more than 15-20 minutes.

I've had previous doctors where the wait would almost be an hour! Craziness...