Telemedicine is a tool that helps to optimize the time and costs of medical consultations for the doctor and the patient.
Time consuming, booking a face-to-face consultation
A 2017 Merritt Hawkins survey found the average wait time for a physician appointment is 24.1 days.
From January 9, 2017 through February 13, 2017 research associates at Merritt Hawkins called physician offices in 15 major metropolitan areas and 15 mid-sized metropolitan areas with the purpose of scheduling a new patient appointment. The survey focused on five medical specialties: cardiology, dermatology, obstetricsgynecology, orthopedic surgery and family medicine.
Names of physicians were selected at random from internet-based physician office listings such as theonline Yellow Pages or Healthgrades.
Key Finding from the study about the time consultation:
1.
Average “new patient” physician appointment wait times have increased significantly. And They included here, when the patient has not visited the practice for more than three years.
2.
The average wait time for a physician appointment for the 15 large metro markets surveyed is 24.1 days, up 30% from 2014.
3.
Appointment wait times are longer in mid-sized metro markets than in large metro markets.
4.
The average wait time for a new patient physician appointment in all 15 mid-sized markets is 32 days, 32.8% higher than the average for large metro markets.
5.
For large markets, the average wait time to see a family medicine physician is 29 days (up 50% from 2014), and ranges from a high of 109 days in Boston to a low of 8 days in Minneapolis.
6.
The average wait time for a new patient physician appointment in all 15 mid-sized markets is 32 days, 32.8% higher than the average for large metro markets.
About the time to see an Specialitst
Average Appointment Wait Times, Major Markets in 2017 was:
Appointment Cancellation for Wait Times
Based on a Health Records vendor, the more time waiting for appointment the more cancellation rates. 12% of patients who were going to see the doctor the next day cancelled. 22% of patients who had to wait for three weeks cancelled. And 32% of patients who had to wait four weeks cancelled their appointments.
Patient no-shows have become a chronic problem in thehealthcare space. It costs the system.
According to vendor reports. In addition to this money, some studies* have linked “no-shows” to health complications and missing General Practitioner visits were associated with early death.
How Telemedicine May Help to reduce the time to see a Doctor
Physicians may save time and expenses related to transportation, implementing telemedicine. Some physicians have part-time jobs at different medical practices and telemedicine may be a great tool for them to see their patients online. For independent physicians, specialists or any type of physician practice, telemedicine is a good option to see patients on weekends or after business hours from home (If reimbursed by health plan) or from their own offices and put their profiles and availability at the hands of their patients.
About Esvyda Telemedicine Solution for reduce the time consultation!
Esvyda work jointly with medical practices to implement viable telemedicine and remote patient monitoring strategies and stablish short, middle and longterm goals.
