An Assessment of Patient Waiting and Consultation Time in the Outpatient Department at a Selected Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Thapa, Radha; Saldanha, Sunita; Bucker, Niloufer; Rishith, P

doi:10.14260/jemds/2018/225

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The transition from paper to electronic medical records had a significant and positive impact on reducing long waiting time at the OPD. Various studies underlined the benefits of electronic medical records over paper-based systems, including how it can improve patient waiting time, increase efficiency, and improve the delivery of healthcare services [ 10 , 11 ] and [ 12 ]. Another study highlighted the preference for electronic health records among healthcare providers due to their efficiency and speed in patient care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A tertiary medical college hospital in Mangalore, Karnataka, evaluated patient waiting and identified disorganized manual files as a primary cause of delays. These findings underscore the disadvantages of paper-based records and suggest that implementing electronic medical records (EMRs) can greatly enhance efficiency [ 11 ]. Reducing outpatient waiting times is a critical challenge for healthcare systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Outcome evaluation of technical strategies on reduction of patient waiting time in the outpatient department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre—Northern Tanzania

Mwanswila,

Mollel,

Mushi

2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background The Tanzania healthcare system is beset by prolonged waiting time in its hospitals particularly in the outpatient departments (OPD). Previous studies conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) revealed that patients typically waited an average of six hours before receiving the services at the OPD making KCMC have the longest waiting time of all the Zonal and National Referral Hospitals. KCMC implemented various interventions from 2016 to 2021 to reduce the waiting time. This study evaluates the outcome of the interventions on waiting time at the OPD. Methods This is an analytical cross-sectional mixed method using an explanatory sequential design. The study enrolled 412 patients who completed a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted among 24 participants (i.e., 12 healthcare providers and 12 patients) from 3rd to 14th July, 2023. Also, a documentary review was conducted to review benchmarks with regards to waiting time. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable. All statistical tests were conducted at 5% significance level. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Results The findings suggest that post-intervention of technical strategies, the overall median OPD waiting time significantly decreased to 3 h 30 min IQR (2.51–4.08), marking a 45% reduction from the previous six-hour wait. Substantial improvements were observed in the waiting time for registration (9 min), payment (10 min), triage (14 min for insured patients), and pharmacy (4 min). Among the implemented strategies, electronic medical records emerged as a significant predictor to reduced waiting time (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI, 1.10–3.94, p-value = 0.025). IDI findings suggested a positive shift in patients' perceptions of OPD waiting time. Problems identified that still need addressing include, ineffective implementation of block appointment and extension of clinic days was linked to issues of ownership, organizational culture, insufficient training, and ineffective follow-up. The shared use of central modern diagnostic equipment between inpatient and outpatient services at the radiology department resulted in delays. Conclusion The established technical strategies have been effective in reducing waiting time, although further action is needed to attain the global standard of 30 min to 2 h OPD waiting time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcome evaluation of technical strategies on reduction of patient waiting time in the outpatient department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre—Northern Tanzania

Mwanswila,

Mollel,

Mushi

2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…The first paper found that the average waiting time for patients is 41 minutes and the average consultation time is 18.21 minutes, resulting in a total of 59.21 minutes for the patient's journey (Ahmad, Khairatul and Farnaza, 2017). The second paper found that the average waiting time is 44.85 minutes and the average consultation time is 17.36 minutes, amounting to a total of 62.21 minutes for the patient's journey (Thapa et al, 2018).…”

Section: Consultation Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Wykorzystanie narzędzi cyfrowych do ulepszenia procesów operacyjnych w przestrzeniach architektonicznych polikliniki szpitalnej

Saeed,

Adas,

Almaimani

2024

Teka Komisji Urbanistyki I Architektury Oddziału Polskiej Akademii Nauk W Krakowie

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Przestoje są poważnym problemem, który dotyczy procesów operacyjnych poliklinik szpitalnych (PS). Dotyczy on zwłaszcza przestrzeni architektonicznych PS, z uwagi na zwiększoną ilość pacjentów. W ostatnim czasie użyto narzędzi cyfrowych w systemach opieki zdrowotnej, aby zmniejszyć przestoje i ułatwić polepszanie procesów operacyjnych w PS; jednym z takich narzędzi jest wirtualny pokój badań. Niemniej jednak pacjenci wciąż muszą być przebadani przez lekarzy w PS i narzędzia cyfrowe same w sobie nie rozwiążą wszystkich problemów, które powodują przestoje. Autorzy niniejszego artykułu przeprowadzili badanie, które oferuje nowy sposób złagodzenia przestojów w PS poprzez połączenie fizycznych i cyfrowych rozwiązań, które zwiększają sprawność PS i optymalizują procesy operacyjne. Zaproponowano alternatywny plan operacyjny, który dodaje wirtualne pokoje badań celem zmniejszenia przestojów. Plan ten pozwala PS na zwiększenie ilości fizycznych i wirtualnych pokojów badań o niemal 110% oraz na zwiększenie dziennej ilości przebadanych fizycznie i wirtualnie pacjentów o 153%. Plan przewiduje przeprojektowanie wnętrz architektonicznych PS, aby polepszyć środowisko i dostosować szpital do wymogów autoryzowanych instytucji.

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“…Authors of a systematic review concluded that the construct of healthcare satisfaction should be measured using a multidimensional approach, with the physical environment, patient–doctor communication, and hospital management processes serving as the primary domains of many instruments [ 18 ]. Overall satisfaction in hospitals is largely determined by outpatient satisfaction [ 19 , 20 ], which could be improved by effective patient–doctor communication [ 20 , 21 ], decreased medical costs, convenient medical treatment process and hospital environment, and shortened waiting time for medical services [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Whether mHealth can improve satisfaction levels is not well understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association between mHealth App Use and Healthcare Satisfaction among Clients at Outpatient Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study in Inner Mongolia, China

Cao

Chongsuvivatwong

McNeil

2022

IJERPH

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Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) have been developed in hospital settings to allocate and manage medical care services, which is one of the national strategies to improve health care in China. Little is known about the comprehensive effects of hospital-based mHealth app use on client satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the full range of mHealth app use and satisfaction domains among clients attending outpatient clinics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to February 2021 in twelve tertiary hospitals in Inner Mongolia. After the construction of the mHealth app use, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Of 1889 participants, the standardized coefficients β on environment/convenience, health information, and medical service fees were 0.11 (p < 0.001), 0.06 (p = 0.039), and 0.08 (p = 0.004), respectively. However, app use was not significantly associated with satisfaction of doctor–patient communication (β = 0.05, p = 0.069), short-term outcomes (β = 0.05, p = 0.054), and general satisfaction (β = 0.02, p = 0.429). Clients of the study hospitals were satisfied with the services, but their satisfaction was not much associated with mHealth use. The limitation of the mHealth system should be improved to enhance communication and engagement among clients, doctors, and healthcare givers, as well as to pay more attention to health outcomes and satisfaction of clients.

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An Assessment of Patient Waiting and Consultation Time in the Outpatient Department at a Selected Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Outcome evaluation of technical strategies on reduction of patient waiting time in the outpatient department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre—Northern Tanzania

Outcome evaluation of technical strategies on reduction of patient waiting time in the outpatient department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre—Northern Tanzania

Wykorzystanie narzędzi cyfrowych do ulepszenia procesów operacyjnych w przestrzeniach architektonicznych polikliniki szpitalnej

The Association between mHealth App Use and Healthcare Satisfaction among Clients at Outpatient Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study in Inner Mongolia, China

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