[Greenleaves]

I've heard that some pdocs spend less than 10 mins with their patients.

I've never experienced that before. I think the least amount of time was 20 mins. My pdocs usually spend 45 mins with me. Is that strange? Anyone else in Ontario? Is that typical?

[wi_fighter]

Mine schedules me for 20 minutes, but so far it hasn't been that long. More like 10-15.

[Merlin]

Mine schedules for an hour, and will even do therapy (though I only see him for meds now since I couldn't talk about my abuse issues with him (I think because he's a man))

[Greenleaves]

Wow, a whole hour.

My first pdoc did therapy with me too. Then she went on maternity leave and I saw this other guy who didn't do therapy.

[vanna123]

Mine spends enough time to write a prescription and then bye bye see you in 2 months!

[Greenleaves]

How do they even know what to give you in a few minutes?

How can they monitor you properly when they see you every 2 months?

There is something very wrong with this picture.

I suppose most of psychiatry really is guesswork...so much so that they don't even need to listen to their patients any more.

my doctors office schedules according to what the person calls in about for example when I call in to schedule my med chech every 6 months that is a 15 minute appointment slot, if its time for my anual physical that is an hour time frame. They schedule these time slots from experience on how long it normally takes them to complete the med check questions or the physical exam. But just because my doctors "scheduling center " has scheduled me for X amount of time does not mean I have to use all that time or not use more time. Sometimes Im in the exam room with my doctor 5 minutes other times Ive been in the exam room 2 hours. it just depends on what is going on and what I need to discuss with him that day. My doctor is great he never rushes me or pushes me to go faster or slower we just go with the flow all that matters is everything by the time I leave the exam room be it 5 minutes or two hours later regardless of the scheduling protocal is addressed and take care of.

[(JD)]

And don't have a pdoc, but my MD prescribes. I have timed the appointments: on average I get 3 minutes total talk time myself, she takes 3 and the rest of the time is her writing... maybe another 3?

[Greenleaves]

That's not a lot of time Sky. Do you feel like you are able to talk about the things that need to be talked about in 3 minutes?

I've never timed how long I spend talking.

I keep thinking pdoc stands for primary doctor LOL mines a medical doctor not a psychiatrist.

[lenjan]

My psychiatrist regularly spends 40-45 minutes with me even though he schedules appointments for 30 minutes. One time, when I was in really horrible shape, he spent an hour and a half with me. When the secretary kept trying to tell him there were people backed up, he said, "They'll wait. We're not done here." He's a great guy.

candy

[LMo]

My MD spent about 20 minutes with me before prescribing... but then again HE called ME about it rather than the other way around, after seeing me 5 times in one year for symptoms that he said were due to stress.

My husband's pdoc always spent close to an hour with him, doing some talk therapy although he left most of the therapy up to our psychologist.

[Lexicon78]

My pdoc spends about 10-15 minutes with me. She asks how I'm doing and then writes my scripts and then I'm gone. That's pretty much it.

LOL my MD's nurse does the same thing. If I haven't called in a week before I'm supposed to be seen and have scheduled the appointment she calls me and says guess what its check up time and we have a perfect opening for you with a date and time. They also know I avoid the annual physicals so they sometimes spring them on me when I am only expecting a med check by my doctor going out and getting some samples or rechecking a client and coming back and him saying guess what (nurse name) says we're ahead of schedule for clients today so heres your ball gown (paper gown) be back in a minute. and all I can do is say ok lets get this over with.

[bipolar_bear]

My pdoc spends 45 minutes with me. He takes his time and thoroughly checks in with me.

[darkeyes]

Wow!! That sounds like mine, 15-20 minutes, max. and the same thing, at a cost of $134.00, for 15-20 minute "talk", oh yes, and a script re-newal if one has ran out over the last visit(s). The flip side, that I look at in a positive way, is that just maybe I have come far enough, that I do not have to go once a week, perhaps a pdoc has enough experience to realize when a patient needs immediate attention and then just needs med maintainance. (sp?). Maybe I sound too "up" on that topic, but makes me think on the positive than to obsess on the negative, and oh man, I use to, way too much.
Years ago, before I was in need of pdoc help, pdoc appts. were like an hour, covering meds and talk therapy. My oldest brother use to go once a week, my parents would take him, (long story) but there was a plus to that "old way" the pdoc knew more about the patient than just a piece of paper that some social worker would hand him or her.
Again, the world has changed and so much is done differently, I have no answers, but can tell anyone that is questionable about their treatment and time alotted (sp?) is to take it up with their mental health professional, ask them why,etc., as a patient, you deserve an answer.
In my own personal opinion and in my heart, I feel a pdoc should devote more than 15 minutes with their patient(s), after all much of it has to do with the quality of one's life, one's sanity,meds. and things that long term affect them. Yeah, I think more than 15-20 minutes, is needed per patient.
I wish you all luck, and understand the frustration of how little our pdocs or mental health care professionals spend with us, it boggles me.
Please take care now,
DE

[yvonne]

10 mins

[gardenergirl]

Mine spends an hour, and she does some therapy. I usually have a lot of questions, too, and she's very patient about answering them. I'm moving towards just meds management with her, though. I'm kinda hoping she'll shorten the time and price if so.

gg

[ashley22]

Mine is about 15 min, then writes the prescriptions. I don't do therapy with him, but with my T.
My pdoc just asks the same questions every month, and practically no med change.

[jbug]

I have a new Pdoc so our appts are about 20-30 minutes. She spends as much time with you as you need.

Jbug

[Estee1]

I only have a psychiatrist...No therapist. I was too far gone. Lol.
Sessions go for 50 minutes every two weeks. Alot of times I'm in there longer than scheduled and I look at the poor person waiting to go in after me. They have been waiting for ages. They give me evil eyes. Lol.
She knows what she's talking about and helps me to get out what she wants to know. I am bad at expressing myself. I can ring If I'm in a bad way. But I don't make a habit of doing that.