Need to see the doctor? Steer clear of Tuesdays and Friday mornings if you want a better chance of getting an appointment.
Tuesday is the most popular day to seek a doctor’s appointment, which can also make it hardest to get in and out quickly, according to doctor-booking website ZocDoc. The site combed anonymous data from its 2.5 million monthly users from July 2012 to July 2013 and came up with some trends about when doctor’s offices are the busiest.
While Tuesday is the most popular day overall to see the doctor, the single most popular appointment request was Friday at 10 a.m., followed by Monday at 2 p.m.
But regardless of the day, most people want to see the doctor at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Those time slots tend to get snapped up first.
ZocDoc also noticed some variations among specialists: acupuncturists tend to get booked up on Friday, chiropractors on Monday and Friday, and dietitians on Wednesday. Pediatricians tend to be busiest on Monday.
The best way to get an appointment with minimal wait time is to go against the grain of what most people want, said Dr. Kamal Ramani, a Manhattan-based general practitioner.
While Mondays in his office tend to be the busiest with people coming in for weekend ailments, they can also be good for snagging a last-minute appointment due to cancellations, Ramani said.
“Most patients think, ‘I should see the doctor on Monday so I’m good for the week,'” he said. “As much as we have a lot of new patients on Mondays, we also have a lot of last-minute cancellations. They decide work is too busy and they can’t make it.”
Midweek can be less hectic for doctors, and thus better for patients, but slow days are also an opportunity for docs to take an afternoon off.
“Wednesdays are usually the slowest because it’s the middle of the week,” Ramani said. “If I had to block off a day for a half day, I would pick a Wednesday.”
By Thursday and Friday, things start amping up again as patients try to squeeze in before the weekend. But depending on the season, Friday afternoon can be a great time to get an appointment.
“In summer, especially in NYC, Friday is a good day to book” because many people have already left town, Ramani said.
As far as time slots, 10 a.m. is persistently popular because “a lot of people want to deal with work first and then come in,” Ramani said. Ditto for 2 p.m., which attracts office workers who want to see the doctor over a late lunch and then take the rest of the day off. If that’s the time slot you’re coveting, try to book as early as possible to avoid getting denied.
In general, morning appointments will have the shortest wait times, but it also helps to find out a thing or two about your doctor’s schedule, Ramani said. A cardiologist, for example, might start his morning at the hospital and be running late for your a.m. appointment. Other offices close for lunch hour, so the first appointment of the afternoon will have the shortest wait.
