The Incredible Shrinking Doctor's Appointment

After waiting two months to get on the physician's calendar, 15 minutes looking for parking and what feels like forever flipping through old magazines in the reception area, you'll likely get just 11 minutes of face time with your doctor, according to research from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. With double-booked office schedules, fewer physicians and insurance companies demanding shorter appointments, "Doctors are stretched thin," says Jim King, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "So the time you get with yours needs to be quality." Read on to learn how to make the most of those minutes.