Researchers deployed three strategies to improve access to new pediatric endocrinology appointments in an urban, academic hospital faculty-based practice:
• New patient appointments were protected from conversion to follow-up appointments.
• All physicians, including senior faculty, were scheduled to see three to four new patients per session.
• Sessions devoted exclusively to follow-up appointments were added based on demand.
Thirteen months after the practice made these changes, the wait time for a follow-up appointment dropped from 8.2 weeks to 2.9 weeks — a decrease of 64.6 percent. In addition, the average monthly total visit volume increased roughly 29 percent, from 284 to 366.
More Articles on Capacity Management:
TeleTracking: Improving Wait Times Saves Money
5 Statistics on ED Visits, Hospitalizations During 2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic
7 Ways Nurses Can Help Shorten Hospital Length of Stay
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
