We recently received an interesting question/comment. A reader pointed out that at TMI we emphasize how to protect your own time, but what do you do when you need more time with someone. We decided to answer this question in terms of a specific situation, just to keep the advice consistent. We will consider how to get more time with your doctor if you want it. Most doctors are aiming to give you just ten minutes when you make a regular appointment. Managed care pressures make this the norm. So, if you know how to get a few more minutes from your doctor, you probably have some strategies that you can generalize to just about any situation.

Give the person a quick overview of what you want to accomplish. At a minimum, if your doctor can't give you any extra time, at least he or she can start with the most important items first and suggest a follow-up visit. 

State your needs specifically. With a doctor, that mean sharing your worries. Most people will respond to a request stated as a need for help. And they extend their time with you, or at least ensure that they do all they can to help you. 

Use repetition to avoid the brush off. Keep repeating what you hear your doctor say, so you avoid the problem of the doctor doing all the talking, and then abruptly walking out the room. State emphatically, "Let me repeat what you just said to make sure I understand what you are saying." If they are really too busy to even listen to your clarification of what you understand, then ask for a follow-up meeting. 

State the obvious. Acknowledge that you know the other person is short on time. But then, also say that you don't want to leave until you have a solid understanding of what to do next. Most doctors are sensitive to solving needs, and if you pose your problem in terms of how the doctor can help you, they'll probably carve out a little extra time for you. 

Use a gentle threat. Tell your doctor that you don't want to leave the office without completely understanding what you are to do--to avoid any unnecessary medical problems. Let the person know that your quality standards (about health with a doctor) demand that you want to clarify your issue before leaving. 

Enlist the help of the medical assistant. Before the doctor comes in, tell the assistant what you hope to accomplish in your visit. In an office, this means engaging the help of the secretary or assistant. They can help you set the stage for a meeting or visit that give you a little more time than was anticipated. 

Let the person who takes your appointment know that you will need more time when you arrange for the visit. Tell them, "This will probably take more than 10 minutes," if you think it will. This way the scheduler will not put you into a time slot where there is no chance of getting more time. 

Thank the person for the extra time. This way, they be more likely to give you a bit more the next time you ask for it.

Janelle M. Barlow, President  
TMI, USA  

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