I do not generalize this to all specialists. Although n=3 in this case, I know there are many other doctors who do this.
Let's start with the who appointment routine...
Unless you go to the ER, there is usually a few day window of which you have if you want to book your appointment. When you go to your scheduled appointment on time, you end up waiting in the waiting room for a good half hour, even though everyone arrives on time and fills out paperwork on time. There is not much we can do about this, because some patients deserve more time in an appointment depending on their condition
Now the meat of the problem...
The "urgency" of an appointment that these specialists seem to uphold themselves to. It's like every time they come into the room to see you, they are on some sort of clock and can't wait to get to the next patient.
Instead of devoting their complete attention to treating you as the patient, half of their mind is focused on getting out so they can see the next patient.
This is ridiculous, people spend good money and time reserving an appointment and attending, only to see the doctor brush off the patient and not offer the respect they deserve. Not all doctors do this, but from my experience, it looks common
These are specialists, nonetheless, who have higher salaries than PCPS, who actually appear more devoted to their patient
These specialists half-listen to what you are telling them, and make swift conclusions which are sometimes erroneous because their mind isn't completely focused on what their patient is trying to communicate.
When these specialists examine you, they look to be on their own agenda and want to get to the next one asap. In some cases, they are too busy filling paperwork while talking to you that they don't understand your situation completely.
This "speed" more and more doctors are demonstrating when treating patients is not a good change. I'm aware many of these doctors are very smart and well-practiced, but this is no excuse for not respecting your patient and devoting them appropriate time. I don't believe that they've done this a long time that they know what they are doing while multi-tasking. Patients' well beings are at stake here, and doctors should not just act time-restricted.
The business side...
I seriously had to schedule another appointment two days after my original, just to have the doctor explain to me what my blood test and urine culture showed. I got these lab results mailed to my house, with complete explanations which I could easily understand, but the doctor made me schedule an appointment just so he could read off the paper.
I could have said no, but the doctor said he wouldn't write me a prescription unless I came in. Coincidentally, the lab results listed the name of the drug he ended up prescribing. He also didn't even give me a prescription; he send an electronic one to my pharmacy. He just could have done this exact same thing over the phone and did not have to involve me coming into his office, waiting, and paying more money.
This happened multiple times to me, and they pretty much called me in just so I would fork over another co-pay, waste my time (and theirs), and spend more time in the waiting room than my actual appointment. Clearly money driven, and I noticed this often in private practices.
The whole revolving door mentality and business-goal these doctors have (largely specialists) is hurting the medical profession, and its integrity.
I hope as future doctors, we devote our complete attention and understand the patients' problems before focusing on the next patient. We are not "on-the-clock", and do not need to act like we will be.
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How (some) specialists are hurting the medical reputation
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