T
OE TAPPING, TEXT SENDING, rifl ing through
purses or listlessly thumbing through the pages
of a magazine — all too often, a waiting patient
is a bored, frustrated patient.
The average wait is 20 minutes and 16 seconds,
according to the 2014 Physician Wait Time Report
by Vitals. Times vary by specialty as well as by loca-
tion — the longest wait was clocked in El Paso, Texas,
at just shy of 30 minutes; the shortest was in Seattle,
at 16 minutes, 15 seconds. However, the theme is the
same: While there are often perfectly valid reasons why
a physician cannot see a patient immediately — such
as ensuring adequate time with all patients — the
increasing demand on physicians' time frequently leaves
patients disgruntled.
THE TIME PATIENTS SPEND IN
WAITING ROOMS IS WIDELY
EXPECTED TO CLIMB AS HEALTHCARE
REFORM PROGRESSES AND MILLIONS
OF PREVIOUSLY UNINSURED
INDIVIDUALS SEEK MEDICAL CARE.
WAIT TIMES HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT
ON PATIENT SATISFACTION AND
PHYSICIAN REVENUE, WARRANTING
A THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT HOW
TO ENHANCE THAT FACET OF THE
PATIENT EXPERIENCE.
Waiting (Rooms)
A Nation in
By Valerie Lauer
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Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M
