Outpatient Waiting Time in Health Services and Teaching Hospitals: A Case Study in Iran

Abstract

Background:One of the most important indexes of the health care quality is patient’s satisfaction and it takes place only when there is a process based on management. One of these processes in the health care organizations is the appropriate management of the waiting time process. The aim of this study is the systematic analyzing of the outpatient waiting time.Methods:This descriptive cross sectional study conducted in 2011 is an applicable study performed in the educational and health care hospitals of one of the medical universities located in the north west of Iran. Since the distributions of outpatients in all the months were equal, sampling stage was used. 160 outpatients were studied and the data was analyzed by using SPSS software.Results:Results of the study showed that the waiting time for the outpatients of ophthalmology clinic with an average of 245 minutes for each patient allocated the maximum time among the other clinics for itself. Orthopedic clinic had the minimal waiting time including an average of 77 minutes per patient. The total average waiting time for each patient in the educational hospitals under this study was about 161 minutes.Conclusion:by applying some models, we can reduce the waiting time especially in the realm of time and space before the admission to the examination room. Utilizing the models including the one before admission, electronic visit systems via internet, a process model, six sigma model, queuing theory model and FIFO model, are the components of the intervention that reduces the outpatient waiting time.

Efficacy of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) in Reducing Total Waiting Time at Warfarin Clinic of a District Hospital: A Cohort Study

“…Common cases seen at the warfarin clinic include atrial fibrillation, prosthetic heart valves and venous thromboembolism. The waiting time for patients is one of the important factors that should be considered in the management and organization of the heath care system [1]. Nowadays, customer care in all the organizations particularly the health care organizations has been advanced [1].…”

“…The waiting time for patients is one of the important factors that should be considered in the management and organization of the heath care system [1]. Nowadays, customer care in all the organizations particularly the health care organizations has been advanced [1]. Prompt treatment in hospitals means to minimize the time for getting a health service with an emphasis on favourable treatment [2].…”

A Study of Determinant of Long Waiting Period in Outpatient Department and Recommendation on reducing waiting time in a Superspecialty Hospital

“…As an off shoot of the study nine registration counters were started, registration forms were modified, additional staff were appointed to handle the telephones in the Cardiology OPD and they were also taught basic telephone etiquette, dedicated biochemistry analyzer was provided for the cardiology department and an alert system was put in place for patients waiting for more than one hour. Rafat mohebbifar, Edris hasanpoor et (19) al studied, outpatient waiting time in health services and teaching hospitals in Iran by applying same models, they recommended that for reducing the waiting time hospital must use advance facility like electronic appointment systems via internet, six sigma models and queuing theory. Form the above finding and revive of liturature we can definitely conclude that due to heavy patients inflow in our outpatient department we need to analyse and adopt variouse que management methods.…”

Outpatient Waiting Time at Vietnam Health Facilities: Policy Implications for Medical Examination Procedure

“…The other aspect was known as the waiting time from their arrival at health facility until being taken care of or entering the examination room. Notably, the second aspect is more concerned because of its relevance to the hospital's subsequent medical activities [7].…”