Why Early Morning Doctors' Appointments Are Better Than Later in the Day

I make all my doctors' appointments as early in the day as possible. Most times, I am the very first patient that a doctor sees.

Some people don't care what day of the week or what time of the day they go to the doctor. Often, the receptionist will ask you the day and time you would like an appointment. You don't have to accept any day or time that is not convenient for you. Since you have a choice, there are days and times that are better for making a doctor's appointment.

Early in the Day Appointments

If you get a doctor's appointment early in the day, you will probably get the best attention when the doctor is fresh and before his schedule gets too hectic. By the third, fourth, and later appointments of the day, things tend to get backed up in the doctor's office. Therefore, try to avoid going to the doctor later in the day if you can.

Avoid Appointments Around 3 P.M.

Many doctors admit they get tired and tend to lose their focus around 3 p.m. Since they are aware of their early-afternoon slump, they usually take a much-needed break to get a snack or a cup of coffee.

Unnecessary Prescriptions

A study shows that doctors prescribe fewer unnecessary prescriptions for their early morning patients. The number of unnecessary prescriptions increases later during the day. The chance of you getting an unnecessary prescription is higher at 4 p.m. than if you had an 8 a.m. appointment.

Treatments for their patients change depending on the time of day. Physicians tend to default to the easy option later in the day. Therefore, when doctors become fatigued, they write a prescription or give a referral rather than taking the time and energy to explain other options to patients.

The same patient can see the doctor at 8 a.m. and get different results if he goes back at 4 p.m. with the same issue. Unfortunately, the 4 p.m. patient has a 26 percent chance of receiving an unnecessary screening, prescription, or referral at 4 p.m. than at an early morning appointment.

See your doctor in the morning for the best care!

Patients spend more time in the waiting room than in their doctor's office when they have an appointment later in the day. Physicians usually allot about 15 minutes for each patient. If an appointment lasts 18 or 20 minutes, the excess time must be deducted from the next patient's appointment.

There is another thing about having appointments later in the day. There is not enough time left in the day for labs and test results to be made because technicians and other staff members clock out around 5 p.m. Therefore, lab work, x-rays, and other test results are put on hold until the next day.

Best and Worst Times For Doctors' Appointments

The best time of day for a doctor's appointment is early in the morning or right after lunch. Those are the times before the doctor gets too far behind with other patients or paperwork. The worst times of day for an appointment are between 11 a.m. and noon, and between 4 and 5 p.m.

The best days for a doctor's appointment are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The worst days for a routine doctor's appointment are Mondays and Fridays. Doctors' offices are filled on Mondays with patients who got sick over the last weekend. People visit the doctor on Fridays so they will feel better over the upcoming weekend.

The best time to call your doctor's office with a question is between 9 a.m. and noon, or between 1 and 4 p.m. The worst time to call with a question is the first thing in the morning or late in the day.

Another Option

If you can't be one of the first patients on the doctor's schedule for the day, change to another day when you can be. If that doesn't work, try to get the first appointment after lunchtime. At all costs, try to avoid an appointment at the end of the day.

It is much more convenient to have an early morning appointment if you are seeing the doctor for a medical issue that prevents you from eating until the visit is over. No one wants to delay eating until 2 or 3 p.m.

Survey Shows when people make doctors' appointments:

• 65% Early appointments
• 20% Late appointments
• 5% It doesn't matter
• 10% Whatever appointment I am given