7)  Take something to do with you.  This one isn’t going to get you seen any quicker, but it can help save you time especially if you have a recurring weekly appointment.  I have cleaned out my purse, balanced my checkbook, clipped coupons, made phone calls, taken a short nap, and written articles while waiting.  No sense in doing nothing.

8)  Have your paperwork ready.  If you’re a new patient, then try to have the necesary paperwork completed before the appointment.  Stop by and pick up forms or call and ask to have them faxed or emailed to you.  You can even try to drop them off before your appointment.  This can save you 15-30 minutes on your first appointment.

9)  Have your current insurance card.  Researching insurance information and benefits can cause the office clerk to make phone calls which will keep you waiting.

10)  Try not to schedule appointments during busy times.  I’ve heard that Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days for appointments.  On those busy days the doctor may get behind schedule. Instead of scheduling on a Monday or Friday you could leave work an hour early on a Tuesday.

Please also check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our time saving tips.

What ways do you save time at the doctor’s office?

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4)  Find out the best way to communicate with the doctor.  Some doctors are now conversing with patients by email.  Some prefer to have you leave a message with the nurse who usually returns your calls within a few hours.

5)  Be willing to see a nurse practitioner or other physician on staff.  If my kids are sick and need to be seen right away then I know that I can probably get a same day appointment for being flexible and seeing any staff member.

6)  Ask about refill procedures.  Some controlled substances such as medicines for ADHD can only be given a month at a time.  Ask your doctor if you can call or email to get a new prescription.  Some doctors will let you come in every other month for these medicines rather than every month.

What ways do you save time at the doctor’s office?

Stay tuned this week for part 3 of time saving tips at the doctor’s office.  Please check out part 1,  10 Time Saving Tips for the Doctor’s Office.

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Here are some tips to save you time:

1)  Be on time.  This one may sound simple, but so many people are late for their doctor appointments.  Being late can cost you time.  Many offices have a policy that if you’re more than 15 minutes late you’ll lose your appointment and have to reschedule.  And I’ve even heard of some office staff that penalize late clients by making them wait at least an hour or two to be seen even if they’re not busy.  This is not just rumor.  I have heard this from employees.  So the first simple step is to be on time.

2)  Call before your appointment.  Sometimes I will call on the day of my appointment just to confirm that everything is scheduled properly.  Unfortunately I have had circumstances where my appointment time was not written down by office staff.  Also, calling ahead gives you the opportunity to ask if the doctor is on schedule for the day or running behind.  The nurse may tell you to come 15 or 20 minutes later than scheduled.  This is time that can keep you from sitting around and waiting.

3)  Be specific when making your appointment.  Tell the person what the appointment is for.  If you tell them that you’re making the appointment for your hurting back and then you ask to have something else tested then they may not have the staff on duty at the time.

How do you save time at the doctor’s office?

Stay tuned later this week for part 2 of 10 Time Saving Tips for the Doctor’s Office.

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Being unemployed is such a bad status. Being unemployed and broke is worse! Just before you run out of funds for the bills after getting that lay-off, here are some ways you can save your savings and your face while undergoing the in-between employment phase that you hate the most.

1. Cut it out with some unnecessary expenditures.

If you still spend the same amount of money you spend when you still have your 9 to 5, chances are you will blow away your savings in no time. Minus gas expenses, parking fees and frequent lunch outs, you should be doing just well if you have a decent savings account that is. If you can kick away your smoking or java cups, the better you will fare with your financial management feat. Search for the best deals.

2. Lower your energy bills.

Since you will be staying more at home, chances are your energy bill will go higher than when you were still working. But you can still make things in control by making sure that you use your phone during off-peak hours if it’s not an emergency call.

Read more energy bill and phone bill saving tips.

3. Make the most of your free time.

Time is gold, yeah? And when you are unemployed, you have lots of it.  One way to maximize your time when you don’t have to wake up early the next day is to use your time instead of paying for stuff that will buy you more time. Got it? One example from is to walk or choose train over a cab if you can. Also, comparison shopping can be done more often and more conscientiously now that you don’t have think of your office work while doing it.

4. Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive.

You don’t have to deprive yourself of some entertainment even when you now can’t afford going to clubs every other night. Video rentals, museums, exhibits and other less expensive forms of entertainment abound. Your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend can be of great help in this endeavor, too. Hehe..

And don’t forget to reinvent yourself while undergoing this dark life in your career. Learn a new lingo, volunteer, and keep vamping up your CV. You can even turn it into an awakening stage, learning new skills or untapped talents that can make you succeed in your work life or even others aspects of your personal life soon. And if you think you are loving not having anyone to boss you around, why not put up a low-cost home business?

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