So, the last 3 days my baby has been battling a rash, i called nurse's line and they said if it persist to bring her in. Last night it was worse so i called and scheduled an appointment for today. She wakes up and is almost all cleared, however our doctor's office has a 24 hour cancellation notice, so i have to take her even though it is clearing up on it's own. This annoys me, but we get "penalized" if we cancel. Anyone else have this rule?
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Yep, it's pretty common here (Ped, OB, and dentist)
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Yup!
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Have you called and explained the situation? I'm sure it depends on the individual office but if I've ever had situations where I've needed to cancel with less than 24 hrs notice, as long as I call and explain why they usually waive the fee...I get the feeling that's more for people who don't bother to call at all and just don't show up.
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Most doctors have that rule, but I've found that some will let you cancel (without penalty) within 24 hours if you made the appointment within 24 hours. Obviously you can't call 5 minutes before the appointment. But if you called at 4pm and made a 2pm appointment the next day, then the rash cleared, if you call first thing in the morning, I think they should let you cancel.
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that seems really silly. I can see that policy for well visits but not for sick.
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In what way are you penalized?
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Not here - the nurse usually tells me that if symptoms are better in the AM to call and cancel
@mauxie: My dentist has this rule but an emergency came up and I called to cancel an apt about 8 hrs away and asked if I would be charged - she said no, that it was a rule for people who are chronically cancelling
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I'd at least call and ask since you only made the appt based on her condition!
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I'm sorry ... that really sucks, but I'm glad LO is doing better.
We go to an MD, but she's a family doctor (small practice). She has a wait list a mile long, so there isn't a penalty for cancelling. I do believe she charges a co-pay (or something similar) if you just miss an appointment without notice.
If anything, she hesitates to book appointments for things like this (or fever), because she assumes it's a simple virus that will clear on its own. She sends a list of things to lookout for. It's a great policy, but once LO developed and had an ear infection for a week before it was diagnosed.
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Almost every doctor here has that rule. You have to cancel 24 hours in advance or pay a fee. I get it, otherwise the doctors are wasting their time and someone else could benefit from your appointment spot. But I do feel for you since you made the appointment last night and the problem is clearing up today.
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Yup - although I have called and spoke to them before and they have waived it. But that is the official rule!
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ours does not have that rule..thank god. I've had to cancel and reschedule more than once! my doctors do have that rule, though.
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Our office has that rule, but they're pretty flexible. I had the exact same situation one time - D was sick, fever was getting worse, called and made appt for the next day, then woke up and fever was gone. I called and explained and they cancelled with no problem.
@Autumnmama79: We would get a bill for the copay amount.
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No our ped doesn't have this rule. But they are usually booking into the night because they are so busy so as long as you call and let them know you aren't coming, they're cool about it.
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@Truth Bombs: Same.
Ours is constantly booking patients, so they'd be fine with a cancellation. Sorry yours is so strict.
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I agree with @snowjewelz! My ped's clinic is really busy so when they squeeze me in to see the doctor, they are happy if I call to cancel. I once asked if it is okay since they have a cancellation policy but they said it doesn't apply to cases like mine.
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I don't honestly know if ours has this rule but I think our dentists (dd and mine/dh's) have this rule. The only sick visits we've made were same day for dd!
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17 comments