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perhaps even making a few notes ahead of time
so that you can tell him what he needs to know as
quickly as possible.

Obviously, if you are sick, the physician will spend

as much time as necessary with you, but routine
appointments can seem rushed. While it can be
infuriating to have to come back for routine issues
(and pay another copayment physicians are not
allowed to waive this fee), it is the system: your
doctor almost certainly hates it as much, as you do,
maybe even more.

Also, please try to be understanding if your doctor

is running a little late for your appointment. While
most doctors do their best to maintain a timely
schedule, genuine emergencies can and do happen
and can wreak havoc on a physician's promptness.
Your doctor's office may try to contact you if they
know your appointment will be delayed, but they
may not be able to reach you in time.

6. Don't ask the physician to bend the HMO rules

for you. You (and/or your employer) picked your
insurance plan. It may be bare bones and not cover
very much, but there isn't much your doctor can
do about that. Bending the rules for you for
example, fudging on the name of the procedure
she's performed so that it can be covered by your
insurance puts her in a very awkward position.
Physicians literally run out of hours in the day
fighting for medically essential procedures for
their sickest patients; insisting that they take that
time obtaining authorization for a procedure not
covered by your plan is not ethical or honest. You