Is your doctor running behind? It’s probably your insurance company’s fault

It is 4:15 p.m. in my clinic, and I’m running an hour behind.

One of my morning patients arrived acutely ill and thus required more of my time and attention than the schedule allotted for. Accordingly, every patient after that has ended up waiting for me. And, as I’m a cancer physician, each of them requires—and deserves—all my time and energy.

There are no “easy” visits here.

By the end of the afternoon, I’ve given up on any possibility of catching up and inform my staff to tell every ...