The doctor’s running behind

I check in a patient. “You’re all set,” I tell her.

“How is he?” she asks.

“He’s behind,” I say, almost conspiratorially.

“How behind? Do I have time to wash my car and get gas?”

I make a face. “About 30 minutes.” His appointments are 30 minutes long.

“So do I have time?”

“I think so… let me see…” I pull up his schedule. It’s almost 1:30, and he’s still with his 12:30 patient. “Maybe to get gas,” I hedge.

She tells me she’s going to go do both. I smile inwardly, telling her to check back in when she gets back.

Ten minutes later, he comes out to get his 1:00 patient. I guess he’s 40 minutes behind, now.