This comment from Sparkler on my post a few months ago about referrals just appeared.
... A visit to the doctors office takes approximately 90 minutes - I see the doctor for maybe 2 minutes. That means that means nearly all of my care in that office is with staff who are great at common issues, but iffy on uncommon ones. I adore my doctor; he is excellent. This is not a criticism of him, but if I have anything uncommon I skip the gatekeeper visit and see the specialist. If you want to understand why patients demand referrals take a look at the entire experience of visiting a specialist versus a family doctor
It's interesting and disheartening that the physician is adored, yet the time with the physician is only 2 minutes.
I would suggest that the patient needs a new physician who can spend more than 2 minutes with the patient -- since if 2 minutes really is the am't of time spent - the care is certainly substandard. No physician can provide adequate care in 2 minutes.
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