hossien yahyazadeh

Patients’ waiting time for healthcare services is identified as one of the key measurements of an effective health system. This factor has an important role in patients’ satisfaction as well. One factor that is related to the waiting time is patients’ punctuality. In this study the effect of patients’ and physicians’ punctuality on waiting time was assessed.

This was a cross- sectional study. The study population was outpatients that were admitted in clinics of a general non-educational hospital. 3500 samples were selected from all clinics. The sampling method was stratified randomized method. Samples were included after taking the informed consent. Data gathered by check lists that recorded the patients work flow at the clinic and the time of arrival to and departure of each station.

about 34% of patients had appointment that 98.5 % of them were unpunctual. The correlation of patient unpunctuality (positive and negative) and their waiting time indicated that these variables had positive correlation (p<0.001). Assessing the correlation of physicians’ punctuality and patients’ waiting time indicated that these variables also had positive correlation (p<0.001).

Appointment systems are very useful in controlling patients waiting time. This study identified that patient’s unpunctuality will increase patients waiting time. By the way negative punctuality will affect waiting time more that positive punctuality. Other important findings of this study was revealing the relation of physicians’ unpunctuality and patients’ waiting time. Punctuality of patients and providers are very important in the performance of appointment system in outpatient settings.

Overcrowding is an important problem for outpatient services in healthcare facilities. Patient flow analysis (PFA) is a useful method for identifying inefficiencies in and facilitating patient flow. PFA was used to estimate patient wait time and determine how different clinical disciplines impact wait times in the studied hospital. This cross-sectional study investigated a study population comprised of outpatients who referred to clinics at a general hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 3836 samples were selected from different stations. Nonrandomized quota sampling was used, and data was gathered using workflow checklists, the content validity of which was proven by experts and hospital authorities. SPSS statistical software was used for data analysis. Total patient stay in the outpatient setting was an estimated 77 minutes (without considering para-clinic units and pharmacy). More than 90% of this time was spent waiting. The wait time of patients at the clinic was greater than that at other stations, and it was less at the cash station than at other stations. Wait times varied at different clinics (P value < 0.001) and were correlated with physician delay (P value < 0.001). The most important result of using PFA in the outpatient setting was managing wait times. This study indicated that a considerable amount of a patient’s total stay in the system was related to waiting for physical examinations. This suggests that the first priority in improving the system should be managing patient wait times for physical examinations.