A new health survey by Consumer Reports reveals that waiting for the doctor is the number one complaint among patients. But patients can beat the waiting room blues by following these five easy tips from prominent U.S. hair restoration physician Dr. Alan Bauman.

Seeing the doctor may be nerve-racking for some, but it's not seeing the doctor that irks patients most of all.

According to a new health survey by Consumer Reports, waiting too long in the waiting room is the number one complaint patients have about their doctors. About 25-percent of patients complained they waited 30 minutes or longer.

"Patients may want to ask their doctors if e-mail is an option so they can avoid unnecessary office visits," says Alan J. Bauman, M.D., a prominent hair restoration physician and founder of Bauman Medical Group in Boca Raton, Florida. "After all, the best way to reduce your waiting time is to avoid the waiting room altogether. But that aside, there are several other strategies a patient can use to get fast-tracked at the doctor's office, such as arriving early or making morning appointments."

Dr. Bauman offers these five "insider" tips on how to reduce your stay in the waiting room:

(1) Mornings are Better: Your odds of getting old in the waiting room increase the later you go. So, if you don't want to wake up early, be prepared to wait. Afternoons in a doctor's office are busy times. Between late patients, difficult cases and tired doctors, the later in the day you go, the longer you'll wait.

(2) Arrive Early: Be at the doctor's office 15 minutes before your scheduled time. That way, you can take care of business - insurance, deductible and billing address questions - so they can take care of yours. Do this, and you'll get through the door quicker.

(3) Have Your Paperwork Ready: Be prepared. Have your insurance card, driver's license and anything else they asked you to bring - or be prepared to wait.

(4) Stay Off Your Cell Phone: Taking care of business while you're in the waiting room may seem smart, but it can actually work against you. That quickie phone call could prevent you from hearing the nurse call your name or the receptionist's question about your insurance. Delay them, and they'll delay you.

(5) Ask About E-mail: Today, the world is connected by e-mail and Internet - so why not patients and doctors? E-mail saves patients time and money and makes it easier for doctors to monitor you after treatment. Ask your doctor if he or she is willing to answer questions or do some follow-ups via e-mail. If not, consider finding someone else who will. (Note: Due to privacy concerns, patients may need to sign an agreement with their doctor's office to authorize e-mail correspondence.)