Long wait times for healthcare Why do people claim countries with universal healthcare have long wait times to receive care? Is there any truth to this? May 8, 2023 · Background Long waiting time in hospital leads to patient’s low satisfaction. You don’t have a full-service VA in your state. 6 days, down 30%. Learn how to reduce patient wait times and maximize satisfaction with this practical guide. already face unacceptable delays in getting routine care. 4 weeks in 2022 —the longest ever recorded—and 195 per cent higher than the 9. Mar 5, 2025 · Longer wait times and delayed treatments have become common concerns in today’s healthcare system. Across the Asia-Pacific region, UK, and US, hospital wait times and wait times to get an appointment are consumers’ greatest pain point, according to Bain’s recent Frontline of Healthcare survey (see Oct 30, 2018 · When Americans talk about the Canadian health system, they often bring up wait times. Oct 1, 2022 · NRC Health conducted a national Market Insights study to better understand the full impact of wait times in healthcare. We also discuss whether waiting time is equally distributed according to socioeconomic status. 3-week wait patients faced in 1993. Dec 13, 2023 · This wait time is the longest in the survey’s more than 30-year history of tracking delayed access to care, and almost three times the 9. Despite its relevance to key medical practice outcomes, timeliness of This issue brief provides an overview of the factors that afect wait times, outlines evidence that suggests universal coverage need not increase wait times in the long run, and discusses policy solutions to mitigate any impact on wait times in the short run. Discover why hospital wait times in Canada are so long. But how long do people really have to wait to get care? This week, we talk to Christopher Hayes, the chief medical information officer at an academic and research health care organization in Canada. Here are some solutions. The following will uncover why these lines persist, discussing capacity issues and administrative processes. What can you do? Jan 18, 2024 · 8 Causes of Long Waiting Time in Hospitals Acknowledging the challenges before exploring the factors for hospital long wait times is vital. 0 weeks between a referral from a GP and receipt of treatment. Wait times can vary dramatically depending on the specific type of care, the patient's condition, the hospital's May 24, 2025 · Hospital wait times in Canada have long been a topic of concern for both patients and healthcare professionals. Yet, long wait times remain one of the top complaints among hospital and clinic visitors. metro areas is 38 days, starkly contrasting with the traditional 14-day benchmark. Fortunately, there are practical, high-impact strategies you can implement to reduce patient wait times without overhauling your entire practice. psychiatry, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, and rheumatology 6). The wait time for specialty care at a VA facility is more than 28 days, or the drive time is longer than 60 minutes. Inefficient clinic systems leading to prolonged wait times at primary care clinics are a source of frustration for patients, physicians, staff and administration. 2,3 Days until third next available appointment is a metric that describes Apr 11, 2018 · Wait times are directly correlated to the satisfaction of patients. They sometimes wait in emergency departments. This article delves into the Are you concerned about the long wait times for mental health services in the US? Our white paper, “Breaking the Wait: Current Delays in Accessing Mental Health Services,” delves into the average wait times for initial appointments and assessments. May 24, 2024 · The Department of Veterans Affairs announced improved wait times for new patient appointments in primary care and mental health care across the VA health care system. 2 days ago · Healthcare Apps help clinics cut long wait times and deliver faster care. In spite of being neighbors, the U. Several factors contribute to these delays, which can increase stress and discomfort for patients and add strain on healthcare providers. Due to increasing pressures on health systems worldwide, treatments often have to be postponed, causing patients further deterioration in their health status. Specialist physicians surveyed report a median waiting time of 30. Jan 18, 2024 · Ossoff said veterans have been waiting “way too long to get health care” from the VA. Hospitals play a crucial role in healthcare, but long wait times affect the patient’s experience. By addressing these challenges through streamlined processes, increased specialist capacity, and technology-enabled solutions like telemedicine, we can enhance access to specialized care and deliver better patient outcomes. For example, in the United States, the average wait time for a primary care physician is roughly 20 minutes, with about 28% of patients being able to meet with a doctor within the day, while specialty care wait times can be as long as several weeks or even months. However, the increasing demand for healthcare, coupled with limited resources, has led to significant delays in receiving care. Solutionreach is a proud sponsor of Healthcare Scene. 5, 6, 7 Long wait times occur across a variety of different specialities (e. The implication for positive social change includes the potential for improved patient wait times and health outcomes. In 2023, physicians report a median wait time of 27. Long wait times can lead to patient dissatisfaction, decreased adherence to treatment, and, in some cases, even adverse health outcomes. Unfortunately, long wait times are not only rampant, they can have a severely detrimental impact on the patient experience and healthcare outcomes, as well as the financial stability of your practice Explore strategies to reduce healthcare wait times, enhance patient satisfaction, improve retention, and ensure better outcomes through efficient processes and care. Moreover, long waiting times may be seen as a barrier to accessing health services, a Feb 11, 2025 · With Secondary Care services under ever-increasing pressure, long wait times are having a profound effect on staff, leading to burnout and diminished job satisfaction. Feb 26, 2025 · Long wait times in single-payer healthcare systems aren’t just a flaw—they’re a built-in feature. Feb 20, 2024 · Long wait times in healthcare settings can significantly impact patient satisfaction and overall healthcare outcomes. Herein, we examine contextual factors that can shape the manner in which Jul 6, 2023 · Long wait times between PCP referrals to appointments with a specialist remain a top barrier to healthcare access in Canada. Oct 31, 2023 · Are hospital wait times longer in Canada? Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2022 is a new study that finds Canada's health-care wait times reached 27. At the end of 2018, more than 39,000 nursing spots Sep 1, 2023 · Keywords Abbreviations 1. Dec 7, 2023 · Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2023 is an annual survey of physicians across Canada, finding a median wait time of 27. Oct 4, 2022 · The US is facing a primary care crisis and long wait times, scheduling inefficiencies, and legacy technology are exacerbating the problem. Retrospective chart audit. A total of 303 patients May 24, 2023 · Long wait times for healthcare services hinder access to specialists, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. 2. While patients wait for care, healthcare workers wait for relief. To calculate patient wait times for specialist care using data from primary care clinics across Canada. Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options AutoModerator • Psychiatric care has been severely restricted in the US with low accessibility and long wait times. Discover how they transform patient experience—learn more and get started today! For practice administrators and IT managers in U. Research testing this hypothesis is scarce due to a paucity of data on how long individuals wait for healthcare in the United States. In this study, the US ranked dead last in access to medical care, equity and healthcare Dec 9, 2023 · How long do Canadians wait for healthcare? Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2022 is a new study that finds Canada's health-care wait times reached 27. May 20, 2024 · Furthermore, extended wait times can erode confidence and trust in the healthcare system, as patients worry whether they will receive the services they need in time and citizens wonder how much they can rely on the healthcare system in times of need. Notably, all three Maritime provinces report median wait times of more than one year. However, data from nations with universal coverage, coupled with historical data from coverage expansion in the United States, show that patients in other nations often have similar or shorter wait times. This analysis explores how government-run healthcare leads to delays in care and reduced access. We investigated factors associated with patient wait time (WT, check-in to examination room placement), approximate clinician time (ACT, completion of nurse Sep 13, 2025 · Patient Wait Time (PWT) is a significant and complex metric that reflects the demand on a healthcare system, its resource capacity, and its overall operational efficiency. ” Physicians are committed to providing excellent care, but many underestimate how long waits impact outcomes. A new analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows wait times for hip and knee replacements and also May 8, 2023 · Background Long waiting time in hospital leads to patient’s low satisfaction. Apr 16, 2021 · With a full year of life-with-COVID behind us, and the hope of mass vaccination on the horizon, it’s time for policymakers to refocus some of their attention on our other health care crisis—long wait times for medical care. Jan 1, 2025 · Long wait times remain a persistent problem experienced by universal healthcare systems such as the National Health Service (NHS). Learn why! May 14, 2018 · Canadians are fed up with long wait times for health-care services. Solutions are urgent. Although there is attention paid to the impacts of these waits on patients, little is known about how long specialist care wait times impact primary care providers. Patient wait times cause many to simply leave their doctor’s office, or leave a negative review on online review sites. Low efficiency. If costlier healthcare causes shorter wait times by pricing out more and more people is a good thing, then it seems that increasing the cost of healthcare so that I can afford it and you can’t, resulting in shorter wait time for me, is a good thing for us. Research shows that the patient experience is heavily influenced by the amount of time spent waiting for care— when wait times go up, satisfaction goes down. Longer wait time in ambulatory clinics can disrupt schedules and decrease satisfaction. Up from 27. However, the increasing patient load and complex healthcare demands have put a significant strain on ED infrastructures, leading to challenges like overcrowding, prolonged wait times, and resource limitations [2]. Practices must know how their end affects how long patients wait. Nov 28, 2024 · Patient satisfaction and operational efficiency are critical in healthcare. ” AANP supports modernizing policies to ensure people across the nation have full and direct access to the high-quality health care NPs provide. And to be clear, wait times are only one manifestation of the strain on Canada’s health-care system. Aug 24, 2015 · As background for the discussions in the report, this chapter defines some of the common terms and concepts from the area of health care access and scheduling, describes the scheduling practices most often seen in various health care settings, and identifies the basic factors that play a role in scheduling delays and variability. This is almost 2,000 more than in August last year, when the second highest number of people waited longer than promised A key recommendation is for private practice health care leaders to hold weekly meetings among the health care staff to discuss the patient survey responses. Wait times are important to health-care delivery since patients lose days of work and urgent cases can be delayed. This paper presents a hybrid framework combining predictive modeling and optimization to reduce system times and enhance satisfaction, focusing Aug 30, 2023 · This signifies that patient wait times impact an individual patient’s perception and influence the provider’s reputation within their community. Despite the various measures to address the issue, it persists Oct 19, 2022 · In healthcare, few things can sour a patient’s experience worse than long wait times. Patients wait at multiple points of their interaction with health systems (Figure 1). Wait time 1, defined as Jun 30, 2025 · Solutions to Combat Long Wait Times While the challenges are significant, there are solutions to improve access and reduce wait times. May 2, 2023 · Long doctor appointment wait times are not just an inconvenience, they’re a public health disaster. Why it matters: Shrinkflation is hitting a sector that accounts for almost one-fifth of the economy, eroding the doctor-patient relationship and leaving many turning to urgent care clinics or telehealth Jan 17, 2025 · Explained: How do hospitals get bed blocked? Long emergency wait times are influenced by how quickly a hospital can safely discharge patients to make room for those coming in. Dec 4, 2023 · What is the average wait time for healthcare in the US? That year, the national average wait to get in to see a new physician was 21 days, an unacceptable amount of time to wait to access care. 7 weeks reported in 2023. Feb 18, 2025 · Learn how wait times and delays to care profoundly affect students' health, academic performance, and overall well-being. But that number has only gotten worse. E. Recognizing this connection can motivate providers and healthcare leaders to take action. In fact, Canada is one of 30 high-income countries with universal health care. But increasingly patients are getting less in return, and enduring long waits to get not as much face-time with their clinician. Long wait times remain a persistent problem experienced by universal healthcare systems such as the National Health Service (NHS). Then how much can the EWT be adjusted to attribute a higher satisfaction? Methods This study was conducted though experimental with hypothetical scenarios. Canadians wait a long time for doctor appointments because demand for doctors is up and the health care system is underfunded. Quality Improvement Methods in Health Care for Reducing Patient Wait The wait time for primary or mental health care at a VA facility is more than 20 days, or the drive time is longer than 30 minutes. Apr 1, 2019 · Patients face long wait times and rationing of care in part because the NHS can't attract nearly enough medical professionals to meet demand. Proactive strategies such as online scheduling, telemedicine, and alternative care options can significantly reduce wait times. International comparison of waiting times are critical for countries to improve policy and for patients to be able to make informed choices, especially in Europe, where patients have the right to seek care in other countries if there Long waits for healthcare are hypothesized to compromise health because less frequent outpatient visits result in delays in diagnosis and treatment. 1. A total of 22 primary care clinics across 7 provinces and 1 territory. And it’s helpful for patients to understand these so they’re aware of how many things can contribute to even short wait times. Feb 29, 2020 · A 2017 study utilized wait times as one of more than 70 indicators of healthcare performance, comparing the US to ten other countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Read this guide on how to reduce this frustrating occurrence. In today’s digital era, where digital services offer instant access, patients demand the same level of efficiency in healthcare. Measuring and shortening cycle time has the potential to improve patient experience, Dec 6, 2023 · More than half say they're not taking new patients, in a new survey. 3 week wait Canadian patients could expect in 1993. Analyses revealed key steps providers and clinics can take to improve the wait time experience. Dec 12, 2024 · Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2024 Report In 2024, physicians across Canada reported a median wait time of 30. In this review, we overview what waiting for health care encompasses, its measurement, and the data available in terms of trends and comparability. 1 But long wait times are Jul 12, 2023 · “We can help shorten wait times and give patients timely access to the care they need by removing barriers to America’s 355,000 NPs. is that countries with universal health care have much longer wait times. If you wait too long, you may find you have no patients left. However, the literature on wait time does not show a consistent correlation between long waits and worse overall patient care experiences. 3 weeks Canadians waited in 1993, when the Fraser Institute began tracking medical wait times. 7 weeks between a referral from a general practitioner and receipt of treatment. Sep 15, 2023 · Average Emergency Department (ED) Wait Times 31 minutes – ED Door to First Provider 55 minutes – ED Door to Doctor 350 minutes – ED Total Time Employee Consequences for Long Wait Times Longer healthcare wait times can have several significant impacts on employees, affecting both their work and personal lives: 1. they're more than one year Emergency wait times in Canada are so long for patients. Learn more! Jul 6, 2023 · Long wait times between PCP referrals to appointments with a specialist remain a top barrier to healthcare access in Canada. In New Brunswick and P. S. Sep 17, 2024 · This chart shows the average waiting time for a doctor's appointment and for non-emergency surgery in 2023 (in days). 1 Long wait times for outpatient care are associated with higher likelihood of mortality, and systems that successfully improve access to care start by measuring it. 7/5 (39 votes) A common misconception in the U. Are people with potentially serious issues getting discouraged from going to an ER because of long wait times? Definitely. In Canada, patients may wait Dec 8, 2022 · The Fraser Institute study this year reports a median wait time of 27. Enhance your patient care now! Aug 30, 2022 · ng long wait times to receive health care at VA facilities. In August this year, 89,435 people waited more than 90 days for treatment. This article will explore the effects of long patient wait times, how attitudes have changed, and offer strategies to reduce wait times and enhance the patient experience. The annual study, based on a survey of physicians across Canada, this year reports a median wait time of 30 weeks from referral by a general Dec 18, 2024 · The report, aptly named Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, showed that the average length of wait from when a person is referred to by their physician to seeing the specialist sits at 30 weeks. I. In South Africa, 83% of the general population visiting primary healthcare (PHC) facilities must contend with long waiting times, overcrowding, staff shortages, poor quality of care, an ineffective appointment booking system, and a lack of medication Feb 14, 2024 · As those wait times go up, death rates also inevitably go up. May 12, 2025 · Long healthcare wait times result from systemic inefficiencies, high patient volumes, and administrative delays. Jan 18, 2022 · Healthcare wait times in Canada are among the longest in the world, and their increasing impacts on health outcomes are becoming worse. Sep 28, 2024 · Long wait times are not the necessary price Canadians must pay for universal coverage. Introduction The availability and appointment wait times in the US health care system have been challenged. Be it the provincial, territorial or federal government, all had nodded to the fact that the Canadian healthcare system has a serious issue which is long wait times. Dec 12, 2024 · In other words, although long wait times remain a staple of Canadian health care, they are not a necessary trade-off for having universal coverage. Despite the various measures to address the issue, it persists, resulting in longer wait times for accident, emergency, and elective non-urgent care. Jan 2, 2024 · Overcrowding and long wait times in emergency departments pose a critical challenge, affecting patient care and healthcare efficiency. Patients across the country experience significant waiting periods for everything from doctor visits to emergency care. Therefore, understanding patient wait time analysis is essential for healthcare providers to detect bottlenecks, streamline processes, and improve Dec 26, 2023 · This year, Canadian patients faced a median wait of 27. This growing issue is more than just an inconvenience; it directly impacts patient health outcomes and overall satisfaction with the healthcare system. By implementing targeted strategies, such as advanced scheduling systems, telehealth services, and process optimization, organizations can reduce appointment wait times and enhance patient engagement in ambulatory and outpatient care settings. Jul 8, 2019 · Background Wait time, defined as time spent in the waiting and exam rooms waiting to see a provider, is a key quality metric in a number of national patient experience surveys. Addressing these issues requires accurate system time predictions and actionable strategies. For this study, wait time was defined as Dec 12, 2024 · Canadians faced longest ever health-care wait times in 2024, study finds 'We’ve now reached an unprecedented and unfortunate milestone for delayed access to care,' said Bacchus Barua, director Mar 11, 2025 · In a recent social media thread, dozens of people — even those with serious medical conditions — are speaking about the unnaturally long times they have to wait for an appointment with a specialist. Our analysis revealed that although there was significant variability depending on VA facility, over 90 percent of VA appointments were completed within Oct 6, 2024 · In August, waiting lists for healthcare were the longest since records began. The VA doesn’t provide the service you need. Long wait times are one of the biggest issues facing healthcare efficiency today. Introduction Healthcare wait times can vary greatly from country to country and even within countries. Dec 18, 2024 · VANCOUVER – Canadian patients in 2024 waited longer than ever for medical treatment, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. Detailed overview of healthcare wait times by country, offering a comparative analysis of the duration individuals have to wait for medical services in different nations. The original poster shared that her friend couldn’t get a neurology appointment after a stroke Jul 2, 2023 · 302 MovedThe document has moved here. Oct 9, 2024 · Improving Patient Flow and Reducing Wait Times landscape of healthcare, ensuring efficient patient flow and minimizing wait times have become critical components of quality care delivery. 7 weeks for medically necessary treatment from a specialist after being referred by a general practitioner. May 27, 2025 · Patients are waiting an average of 31 days to schedule an appointment with a doctor, according to a study of commonly used specialty physicians in 15 major U. Join us Mar 8, 2013 · A strong and inverse relationship between patient satisfaction and wait times in ambulatory care settings has been demonstrated. Jul 23, 2024 · The average wait time for the third next available appointment across 11 medical specialties in 23 U. In Patients around the world bemoan countless frustrations with healthcare, but one complaint consistently rises far above the rest: wait times. Feb 19, 2024 · One of the leading measures of patient satisfaction is the amount of time a patient must wait to schedule an appointment at your practice or the length of time they spend in your waiting room. 4 weeks in 2022—the longest ever recorded—and 195 per cent higher than the 9. Using AI automation can cut these delays. 4 weeks for Canadians to get treatment after a family doctor referral. The high cost of long wait times There are few greater sources of frustration for patients than waiting a long time to see their provider—both to get an appointment scheduled and after arriving in the office. Primary care clinics. A record number of people have been waiting longer for a procedure or operation than promised by the Healthcare Guarantee. They report their existing patients need more attention for complex problems, and many keep months-long waitlists. In this study we aimed to analyse wait times during general and specialised medical consultations Compared to other countries, Canadians experience long wait times for specialist referrals and appointments leading to poorer health outcomes for patients. Mar 24, 2025 · While some wait time issues stem from factors outside your control—like patients arriving late or emergencies disrupting the schedule—many delays are preventable. Of course, wait times vary considerably across the country. Discover how they transform patient experience—learn more and get started today! Jan 27, 2025 · Discover Canada’s 2024 health care wait time report, highlighting a 30-week median delay for treatment, significant provincial differences, and prolonged waits for key specialties and diagnostics. In their 2022 survey, the wait for a new patient appointment increased to an average of 26 days. Long waiting times negatively affect patient experience and hospital performance. In 1993, the same referral to a specialist timeline took only 9. They sometimes wait to see a family doctor. If your patient survey finds that people are feeling annoyed about the wait at your office, make changes now. Sep 3, 2024 · The U. Sep 17, 2024 · Healthcare: How Long Do Patients Have To Wait? According to a recent study by the Consumer Choice Center, the average wait for a GP appointment in the United States in 2023 was around three Jun 30, 2025 · Whether for a routine check-up or specialized care, wait times have reached record highs, creating a bottleneck in healthcare delivery. Take A Number: Would Long Wait Times In US Healthcare Be Acceptable? With all the talk of Medicare For All in the media, I started to think about American healthcare culture as we see it today and wonder if Americans really could function under a system that is budget based and would likely have increased waiting times. More than 2,000 consumers shared their perspectives on acceptable wait times, how people feel if wait times go beyond acceptable, what makes long waits worth it, and what care providers can do to mitigate frustration with long waits. And while most patients understand that some waiting is inevitable, extended or habitual waits without options to engage conveniently—like starting their paperwork with digital check-in—often lead to building frustration. Feb 6, 2025 · Discover actionable solutions for reducing patient wait times, improving satisfaction, and boosting your practice's efficiency. Oct 3, 2022 · The average wait time for appointments across specialties is 26 days, up 8% from 2017. 8 - 10 In 2020 Results Our study showed that patients’ “willingness to wait” is the product of the actual wait time, individual factors, such as the perceived value of the visit and cost of a long wait, and clinic and provider factors. Aug 21, 2024 · Background Globally, reduction of patient waiting time has been identified as one of the major characteristics of a functional health system. This edition of Waiting Your Turn indicates that, overall, waiting times for medically neces-sary treatment have increased since last year. Oct 18, 2019 · The Truth on Wait Times in Universal Coverage Systems The White House falsely asserts that Medicare for All must lead to longer wait times for care. Compared to other countries, studies indicate longer and more problematic wait times for specialists in Canada. healthcare, long wait times for benefit verification cause problems with operations and patient care. International comparison of waiting times are critical for countries to improve policy and for patients to be able to make informed choices, especially in Europe, where patients have the right to seek care in other countries if there . High occupancy levels in EDs often correlate with prolonged waiting times, adversely impacting patient care quality and satisfaction For practice administrators and IT managers in U. g. In addition to reducing the actual waiting time (AWT), we can also improve satisfaction by adjusting the expected waiting time (EWT). Nov 2, 2024 · Compare healthcare wait times by country with our global overview. Dec 12, 2024 · Opinion: Time for action as Canadians face longest health-care waits on record Median wait times from referral to care are three times longer than in 1993. When patients experience extended wait times can lead to frustration, dissatisfaction, and even compromised health outcomes. Why do people claim countries with universal healthcare have long wait times to receive care? Is there any truth to this? Jan 1, 2025 · Patient wait times have long been a challenge in hospitals and healthcare facilities, impacting both patient satisfaction and the overall efficiency of the hospital. The average in family medicine is 20. Oct 4, 2023 · In today's healthcare landscape, patient wait times are a significant concern for patients and healthcare providers alike. As a country with a publicly funded healthcare system, Canada prides itself on providing universal access to medical services. This approach frees up in-office appointments for more urgent cases. Although the number of patients affected by wait times are rarely included in televised updates from provincial health care officials, they shouldn’t be ignored 4 years ago Every Canadian has a wait-time story. and Canada take dramatically different approaches to health care. WHO data show that wait times for clinic patients globally vary between 30 min and 2 h, but at Saint Boniface Hospital in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti, wait times range between 3 h and 8 h. Feb 6, 2024 · Explore factors affecting patient waiting time, its effects on satisfaction, and solutions for efficient healthcare service delivery. This is 222% longer than the 9. Here's what's driving the trend and how practices can Struggling with long wait times at your clinic? Discover expert strategies to reduce patient wait times, improve satisfaction, and optimize clinic flow. Leverage Telehealth Services Telehealth can bridge the gap in care by offering convenient virtual consultations for non-emergent issues. Discover why hospital wait times are so long and explore smart strategies to reduce delays, improve patient flow, and enhance the overall care experience. 3 weeks. Apr 30, 2020 · Waiting Time for Health Services Introduction Time spent waiting for health care presents a potential barrier to health system access and engagement. Forrester notes that average wait Jan 26, 2024 · Score: 4. See where patients wait the longest—and shortest—for care, surgeries, and specialists. cities. In essence, patient feedback underscores the profound significance of waiting times in healthcare. Aug 15, 2023 · How long has a patient had to wait to be checked in for their appointment when arriving at a healthcare facility? Is the patient easily directed to their doctor’s room or testing area and kept informed at all times? How long did the patient wait to see their doctor and receive a referral? Jul 16, 2020 · Many factors lead to longer wait times. Dec 7, 2023 · Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2023 Report reports the results of this year’s survey. Explore key challenges, impacts, and how better queue management can improve the healthcare experience. 0 weeks between referral from a general practitioner and receipt of treat-ment—longer than the wait of 27. S Dec 20, 2022 · The issue of waiting times for healthcare is a major topic of political discussion in most countries that enjoy a universal healthcare system [1]. Why are Canadian healthcare wait times so long? Several factors have been identified as contributing to the excessive wait times for access to specialists in Canada, including limited specialty care resources, inconsistency in family physicians' abilities to order advanced diagnostic tests, and higher demands on the health care system at large. 7 in 2023. Sep 1, 2013 · Long waiting times for health care is an important health policy issue in many countries, and many have introduced some form of national waiting time guarantees. While a short wait time is often seen as a sign of a high-performing system, the reality is more nuanced. This year’s wait time is the long-est wait time Dec 3, 2024 · Provider shortages, inefficient scheduling systems and patient no-shows affect appointment wait times. Mar 27, 2025 · There's a critical shortage of primary care doctors across the country, and long wait times for appointments. spends more on health care than almost anywhere else. In response, there are 12,000 "concierge" medical practices now operating in the U. Aug 7, 2024 · Opponents of universal health care often predict it would lead to long waits to see a doctor, but patients in the U. Oct 7, 2021 · He discussed why doctors should work to mitigate long patient wait times through prescheduling tools, the negative impact of long wait times and how they impede care, telemedicine's impact on in-person visits, and the future of the waiting room. Transitioning to telepsychiatry represents a potential solution for rural disparities in access. Feb 18, 2025 · “Long wait times may also directly and indirectly reduce patient adherence to recommended treatment. 7 weeks—the longest ever recorded—with national wait times longest between a referral by a GP and plastic, orthopaedic, and neurosurgery, while shortest for radiation and medical oncology treatments. The new bill would “hold the VA accountable to meet clear and transparent targets for reduced wait times Jul 4, 2019 · Timely access to care is one of six aims for health care systems emphasized in the Institute of Medicine’s influential report Crossing the Quality Chasm. They sometimes wait to see specialists.