Impact of Patient Arrival Time on Wait Times in Urology Clinics
Author Information
Author(s): Okotie Onisuru T., Patel Neel, Gonzalez Chris M.
Primary Institution: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Does patient arrival time affect overall wait time and physician utilization in outpatient urology clinics?
Conclusion
Late patients had significantly less time with the physician and decreased overall clinic efficiency.
Supporting Evidence
- 63.2% of patients were on time for their scheduled appointment.
- On-time patients waited longer in the exam room than late patients.
- Late patients spent less time with the physician compared to on-time patients.
- Exam room utilization was lower for late patients.
Takeaway
If patients arrive late to their doctor’s appointment, they spend less time with the doctor and make the clinic run less smoothly.
Methodology
Patient arrival times and related metrics were recorded for 226 outpatient visits over three months.
Potential Biases
The findings may not be generalizable due to the single physician's practice patterns.
Limitations
The study used only one physician in one location, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
306 scheduled patients, with 63.2% on-time arrivals and 14.8% no-shows.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = .005 for wait time comparison, P = .041 for time spent with physician.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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