Idk if this is a problem elsewhere, but in the US watch out for “patient mills.” This is specifically for rehab services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy), but I know applies to other health professions.
Patient mills see “patients” as cogs in a machine or as billable units. And they are greedy.
Patient mills are places that will force their healthcare providers to be double or even triple booked. Or they give you and the provider a very short amount of time to work together. You likely will not get one on one attention.
Bad for your healthcare. A waste of your time and money, and a miserable, stressful working environment for the healthcare provider.
So, what to do to improve the care you receive and the lives of healthcare workers everywhere?
If you are able, before making an appointment ask:
How much time do I get with the therapist?
Is it one on one attention or will the therapist be seeing other patients at the same time?
Will I receive one:one care from a therapist for every appointment for the whole time or just the first visit?
If you find out it will not be 1:1 care (or will only be that way for the first visit) and/or you only get like 30 minutes with them, tell them you are not interested and will be going to a different clinic that provides more time and 1:1 care.
If your insurance makes it really hard or impossible to go to another clinic, tell them you would like 1:1 care and a longer appointment slot. Start putting pressure on these places. Leave a bad review (of the clinic not the individual clinicians being forced to work in such an environment).
You will be helping yourself and healthcare workers.