Reducing Wait Times

Another part of the patient experience is how long the patient has to wait before they actually see you (the doctor). I know some people feel that good services are worth waiting for but not if the wait is for hours. If you have your patients wait long every visit they will leave your practice and go down the street to another practice that gets the job done faster. Today's patient wants their doctors to be fast and thorough. If you’re in a practice with a high wait time it’s time for you to analyze your patient flow because there is something internally that isn't connecting. Could it be a lack of communication? It may be time to implement a wait time playbook. Find out what is causing the wait time and come up with strategies to reduce wait times.

 An area to look at when dealing with wait times, is scheduling. (Some Questions to consider) Are you being overbooked? Do some of your appointment times need to be extended? Are you spending way too much time with patients? 
Emergencies do happen and there are times you cannot predict wait times but you can create distractions. When I say distractions I simply mean ways to keep patients mind off of having to wait. Some of these distractions include Wi-fi; your computer savvy patients may need to check emails or create reports, which can keep their mind off of their wait. Having an open Wi-Fi access will help them do other things while waiting. TV is also another distraction and can be great for pediatric patients. Many offices now offer complimentary coffee and snacks this can be used as a distraction but this area needs to be maintained and cleaned. You have staff do not be afraid to utilize them.

How are you reducing your wait times?