The time doctors' offices open can vary depending on the medical practice. However, some common open times are:
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Monday through Friday: Most doctors' offices are typically open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some offices opening at 9:00 a.m. or later.
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Saturday and Sunday: Many offices are also open on Saturdays, typically from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some may close early, such as noon or 1:00 p.m., while others may remain open until 7:00 p.m. or later, even on Sundays.
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Holidays: Some offices close on holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. It's essential to check with specific practices for holiday opening times.
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Evening hours: Some practices may have evening hours for patients who cannot make it to the office during traditional working hours. These evening hours are often scheduled Monday through Thursday, with fewer availability on weekends.
Example open time schedule
Here's a general example of a typical open time schedule for a family medicine practice:
- Monday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
What if an appointment is scheduled at a different time
In case of an appointment scheduled at a specific time, it's the responsibility of both the patient and the medical practice to ensure that the appointment is kept. Practices may prioritize certain times for urgent or emergent appointments and may schedule subsequent appointments earlier in the day. It's always best to contact the office ahead of time to confirm the details of a scheduled appointment.
How to find out the current opening times
To find out the current opening times of a specific practice, patients can: