I can comment as an eyewitness. Overbooking is real, some legit, some dangerous. Three close friends in private life are doctors. We've had discussions about this very topic.

First, one of them is a internist (internal medicine), the other two are surgeons. I've been told that they do overbook intentionally.. ..other than no-shows/cancellation one reason is to compensate for low reimbursement rates of medical insurance companies. Example is, after performing a highly specialized procedure, unique circumstances that aggravated difficulty (the national average for this surgery is $50,000 up depending on specifics) the insurance company (well known) disallowed charges to the point payout to him was under $200. This guy is a veteran surgeon, for years was one of 19th Judicial's go-to medical experts for State's witness in medical malpractice suits, was on staff in LSU's sports programs, etc. He says not uncommon for doctors to be paid a mere fraction or not to get paid at all when insurance companies deny coverage after the fact. So, at times, some doctors will overbook to compensate here.

I was told overbooking is more common with GP's than specialists but they virtually all overbook. Doctors are also regular people, they get tired of the same things as we do. One of my buddies said when he started practice he was passionate about his work. Sad to say that he grew callous, began to hate his work, despise people in general. I told he should get out but he had his financial goals to finish with. I'd be willing to bet there are quite a few doctors who are that boat, only still working for the money.

I've known all 3 since grade school. My closest friend of the 3 is the opposite. He not only doesn't overbook, but still loves his work, refuses to retire, allows at least 20-30 mins. per appointment, more depending on whether it's to discuss options prior to procedure, a follow-up, exam, etc. This guy knows your kid's names. He is truly the best doctor I've ever seen and has helped me more than all others combined.

He's internal medicine but after seeing 5 kidney specialists for what they diagnosed as complications from kidney stones, I'm hospitalized, critical with acute renal failure.. ..the specialists had thrown up their arms.. told me to get my affairs in order.. I may not see Christmas. I left AMA, went to my buddy, he sat with me over an hour (appointment in office), slowly worked back through my life and medical records... getting to my childhood... ..getting me to search memories, I recalled a time I'd wrecked my dirt bike, bruised gut and winded by the handle bars... recalled I'd pee with a little blood for a couple of days. He immediately ordered an MRI.. (I'd had two prior with specialists) ...after taking time to go through my life history and looking closer, he'd discovered old scar tissue that was severely blocking efficiency... also giving false indication of kidney stones passing.

After seeing FIVE renal specialists, all saw me and my charts, it was an internist physician who changed treatment ordered by renal "specialists". Within 6 weeks my blood tests were normal, felt like a million $, health was flawless.. without exaggeration, this dude literally saved my life by taking extra time the others wouldn't. I would absolutely NOT be alive now, fully active, if not for one doctor who allowed his patients more time than others. And don't think my treatment was any different because of close friendship, all patients get the same.

It's a fact that doctors overbook, I know firsthand and could tell much more. It sucks but there are reasons...some probably legit. There are also great doctors out there, their job and patients come first and they allow enough time to be thorough enough save lives where other doctors failed...there are also those doctors that have lost enthusiasm and only still in it for the money, we get screwed with long waits. But they are people just like us. I'd bet the populace of OT is no different.

This post was edited on 7/30/20 at 2:30 pm