Doctor office delayed for weather, what does that mean?

[Kathryn]

DS has a doctor appointment in the morning at an office two hours away. They usually open at 8am and his appointment is at 10:45. The local news for the city the office is in has the office on the list of delays/closings as opening at 10am. What does that mean? Does that mean all appointments are pushed back two hours or that the people scheduled before 10am are out of luck? We can't wait and call because it's two hours away and the appointment is 45 minutes after the delayed opening time.

[ThisIsTheDay]

Is there a website with clarifying info?  Or can you call the number and the answering service might have more info?

 

I'd be leery if you or the office is in the path of the storm.  Many places in my state (VA), literally from one end to the other, have already announced closures,although no snow has fallen yet.

 

How frustrating to know.  It's a commitment to drive that far.

[slackermom]

I used to work in a doctor's office where this happened a couple of times. If the weather is bad enough that the office hours are changed, you can expect the schedule will basically be thrown out the window. Once whatever staff that can get to the office actually arrives, they will be on the phone trying to reach patients to see what can be rescheduled. Any patients who show up would just be seen whenever it works out. They do their best to honor the commitment to the schedule, but be prepared to wait.

 

ETA: Note that the facilities could be affected as well, ie no plowed parking, no power, possibly no phones (so they can't easily call you), etc, plus some staff unable to come in due to school closures.

Edited January 22, 2016 by slackermom

[Kathryn]

We are in SC so not in direct path of anything. We are only

Supposed to get rain where we live. I'm not sure what the current forecast is for where the appointment is. I tried the website and the phone number--nothing has changed on either one.

[Garga]

Oh dear. For a 4 hour round trip drive, I'd call the doctor on call. I know it probably is terrible for the doctor to be interrupted on her time off to answer an administrative question, but for a 4 hour round trip...I'd call. That's too much to ask of patients--to drive 4 hours just to find out the appointment is moved or cancelled or something.

 

Of course first I'd check the website and call the office answering machine to see if there's more information there, but if there isn't then they should be expecting people to try to contact them to ask for clarification. Do people often travel 4 hours to see this doctor? Is this a rare specialist? I only ask because if so, then the office knows that their patients will need clarification. They should be expecting people to be calling. It doesn't sound like this is the local practice whose patients are all within a 10 mile radius.

 

And if they were silly enough not to expect people to be forced to call the doctor on call (if that's available), then I'll bet the doctor will make sure that next time, the information is on the website so she doesn't get interrupted on her time off.

[Kathryn]

I don't know of any way to reach an on-call doctor. Usually, it just diverts from the main number during off hours, but I tried calling and just got the office line that went to voicemail. It's the developmental pediatrician that he sees. I assume we aren't the only ones who aren't local as there are only a few developmental pediatrician offices in the state and they all have long waiting lists.

[Garga]

I don't know of any way to reach an on-call doctor. Usually, it just diverts from the main number during off hours, but I tried calling and just got the office line that went to voicemail. It's the developmental pediatrician that he sees. I assume we aren't the only ones who aren't local as there are only a few developmental pediatrician offices in the state and they all have long waiting lists.

:(.

 

Then I would just show up early to my appointment and be prepared to wait in the waiting room. Snacks and things to do. :(. I would think that a lot of people who had pre-10:00 appointments might be there at 10:00 on the dot hoping to get in. I'd have to assume that my appointment would stand since it's after opening time.

 

And then I'd tell the doctor's office that they need to be more clear on their answering machine. Perhaps they called all the pre-10:00 appointments and rescheduled them or something, but since yours is after 10 they figured you'd just show up for it.

[Tap]

I would call before you need to leave, and see if anyone answers the phone. The answering service may have an answer for you at that time of day.

 

If you can, I would just cancel my visit.  If the weather is bad enough for a doctors office closure, then I would not want to drive into the area.  You could get there only to find out that they closed the office. 

 

 

[G5052]

I have a family member sees multiple specialists every month including an out-of-state one 6-8 times a year.

 

If the out-of-state specialist does delayed arrival, there is no penalty as long as you cancel that day. If your appointment is after they arrive and you want to come, you're expected to be on time. They try to accommodate those whose appointments were before they opened by rescheduling later that day. The bottom line is that they try to be open for anyone who can get there, and we have indeed gone there in the snow. Office policies vary, but that's what that clinic does. It's in the packet they gave us when we started with them.

 

The local hospital told us that they actually don't cancel any procedures on a snow day because the staff is expected to be there anyway. If you want to cancel, no penalty, but you are welcome to come. We met two people at an appointment earlier this week who are scheduled for knee replacement today (Friday), and they said that they're going forward with it!

Edited January 22, 2016 by G5052

[BearWallowSchool]

I take it to mean that the people scheduled for before 10 will need to reschedule and I'd show up at 10:15 for my appointment.

[trulycrabby]

I would be there waiting at the door at 10:00 am, if possible.

[Kathryn]

I called at 8am and the message had changed to "we are on a two hour delay." Checked their Facebook page and it was updated last night with the same. DH decided he would go ahead and try to go and leave early because of possible driving conditions. He got the car packed up and warmed up and had DS in the car and was getting in himself when I decided to check the Facebook page one more time. They *just* posted a picture of their snow and that they were now closed all day.

[Amira]

I called at 8am and the message had changed to "we are on a two hour delay." Checked their Facebook page and it was updated last night with the same. DH decided he would go ahead and try to go and leave early because of possible driving conditions. He got the car packed up and warmed up and had DS in the car and was getting in himself when I decided to check the Facebook page one more time. They *just* posted a picture of their snow and that they were now closed all day.

 

I'm glad you saw it before they left!

[Lakeside]

I called at 8am and the message had changed to "we are on a two hour delay." Checked their Facebook page and it was updated last night with the same. DH decided he would go ahead and try to go and leave early because of possible driving conditions. He got the car packed up and warmed up and had DS in the car and was getting in himself when I decided to check the Facebook page one more time. They *just* posted a picture of their snow and that they were now closed all day.

I'm glad you checked again before your husband left! Hopefully it isn't too difficult to reschedule.

[JFSinIL]

I would check road conditions and weather forecast and if at all possible stay home and call later to reschedule.  It is unfortunate, but do you want to risk being stuck at the doctor office for hours or a day or more - or worse yet, on the road - if the weather gets as bad as predicted?