A doctor tells us how to avoiding waiting forever at your next appointment

Most of us dread going to the doctor - and what's worse? Waiting for hours in the waiting room bored out of your mind! Dr. Brett Belchetz has all the best tips to get you 

Pick a good time

Just like driving in rush hour is brutal - waiting for the doctor during "rush hour" can be brutal as well. The best times to go are as soon as the office opens and right after lunch at 1pm. Avoid going mid-mornings and mid-afternoons (10 am and 4pm). If you're still unsure - just ask the receptionist. 

Call ahead of time 

It only takes a second to call and double check if the doctor is on schedule - even doctor's can be late sometimes. If you find yourself waiting, ask the receptionist how much time till your appointment and use that time to run a quick errand in the area. 

Come prepared 

To save time, request that the paperwork be emailed to you so that you can complete and send it before your appointment. Often times, office websites will include printable versions. To make your appointment move faster, write down everything you want to talk to your doctor about ahead of time just in case you forget. That'll also save you an extra appointment.

Be concise

There have been multiple studies that suggest a patient only has 11 seconds to explain the situation before a doctor interuppts. Be concise while you're there and try to stick to one issue per visit - a doctor has a fixed amount of time per patient and additional issues could cause you to recieve less thorough care. 

Take notes

Everyone can admit leaving the doctor's office and forgetting certain details. Take notes as the doctor is speaking so that you can go home and research the things your doctor has told you about or diagnosed you with.