Long wait times do not have to be unavoidable. According to a study by healthcare consumer engagement group Vitals, the less patients wait, the better satisfaction scores. This does not guarentee you an appointment at the clinic. In other words, the length of waiting is one of the parameters when measuring the level of care you receive. Patients who must wait too long to get into the clinic might see their conditions worsen, potentially compounding complexity of care and healthcare costs. Lastly, more than lost revenue, long wait times are also about missed opportunities. There is a strong correlation between wait times and doctors’ rating. How Queue Management Affects Your Bottom Line? Quite simply, patients don’t want to deal with hospitals that don’t respect their time. About Wait Times. Currently, most patients do not understand that distinction, according to a 2017 survey from New York City-based urgent care provider CityMD. By expanding patient panels to these clinicians, organizations make it easier for patients to see a medical professional. Organizations must be transparent with patients in these cases. READ MORE: Centralized Appointment Scheduling Aids Patient Experience. Organizations can also employ patient education strategies to help patients triage themselves. Estimated wait times are updated every 15 minutes but they are approximate and can change very quickly.. In the same study, physicians with five stars, which is the highest rating assigned within the study, had wait times that were over 20 minutes shorter than wait times of doctors with a one-star rating: 12 minutes, 33 seconds versus 33 minutes, 4 seconds. Tips on Safe Queue Management During Quarantine. 20% of patients are willing to pay an extra fee for quicker service. Albertans interested in treatment options can view wait time information on medical procedures and diagnostic tests and then discuss their treatment options with their health-care provider. Organizations must address the root issue of general appointment availability to better address long wait times. Tell them about Skip the Waiting Room! Those are the stats from 2017, and compared to the year before, there has been a decrease of 1 minute, 16 seconds. Wait times are updated every 15 minutes. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) also points out that patients who cannot see their practitioner are more likely to succumb to desperation and choose an emergency room instead. Organizations are able to overcome those long wait times by strictly adhering to their schedule and ensuring there is plenty for appointment access.