End of the Day Medicine

A little tip about seeking medical care... For those of you inclined to go just before closing, don't.

Doctors are tired at the end of the day and offices that close usually have limited resources. You're better off going somewhere which has 24 hour service, usually an ER or 24 hour urgent care center. Don't be fooled into thinking that your visit will be quicker because the place closes and everyone wants to go home. If that's the case, you're probably not sick enough to even need a doctor appointment.

By the end of the day in most offices, there is paperwork to catch up on. Most doctors will do their best to keep up with charting as they see patients throughout the day. However, most inevitably get behind. So not only are you dealing with tired staff, you're dealing with people who are behind in their work before you even get there. Have you ever interrupted someone who was already behind in their work? How did that work out for you? Did you get what you wanted?

Medicine is not better practiced in a rush. Things get missed by both the patient and the doctor. Patients forget important details which would help their doctor make a diagnosis. Doctors forget to give that extra piece of education that would have made you satisfied with your visit if you both weren't in a rush.