Anna Goddard’s Post

👉 Patient Wait Times Increasing Across the Country 👈 🚧 According to recently released findings from ECG Management Consultants, the average wait time for the third next available appointment across 11 medical specialties in 23 U.S. metro areas is 38 days, starkly contrasting with a traditional 14-day benchmark. 🛑 ECG Management Consultants investigated patient wait times due to their difficulty in measurement and tracking. According to a recent Becker's Healthcare article profiling the issue, while many people have anecdotal evidence that accessing medical care is becoming increasingly slow and time-consuming, the report, "The Waiting Game: New-Patient Appointment Access for US Physicians," gives concrete evidence for the exceedingly long wait times across the nation. ☎ In their research, ECG “secret shoppers” contacted close to 170 medical practices in each metro area to try to establish care with a doctor. This was typically for the “third next available non-urgent appointment,” and for medical conditions that wouldn’t have needed a prior authorization or referral-- including primary care. 🚷 Jennifer Moody, a partner at ECG, was shocked at what the secret patients encountered. "One of the takeaways was how difficult the patient experience is. Not only did our secret shoppers have to go out and find physicians, they had to sit on the phone sometimes on very long holds, and go through multiple barriers and jump through hoops," Ms. Moody said. "Even in that case, they weren't successful in scheduling appointments with all the practices they called. I think of the average consumer who might be having a similar experience." 🏙 A key takeaway from the article was that despite their concentration of physicians across various specialties, metro areas didn’t typically guarantee timely access for receiving medical care, with an average of up to an over 30 day wait to see a provider in Chicago, Denver, Seattle, and Boston (where it was 70 days). This problem is of course exacerbated in rural areas and small cities with a lower density of providers to begin with. ➡ Read more about this urgent issue here: https://lnkd.in/e776amYf #patientwaittimes #healthcareaccess #primarycare #specialtycare #hospitals #healthcareleadership #alignedproviders #beckershealthcare

👉 Patient Wait Times Increasing Across the Country 👈 🚧 According to recently released findings from ECG Management Consultants, the average wait time for the third next available appointment across 11 medical specialties in 23 U.S. metro areas is 38 days, starkly contrasting with a traditional 14-day benchmark. 🛑 ECG Management Consultants investigated patient wait times due to their difficulty in measurement and tracking. According to a recent Becker's Healthcare article profiling the issue, while many people have anecdotal evidence that accessing medical care is becoming increasingly slow and time-consuming, the report, "The Waiting Game: New-Patient Appointment Access for US Physicians," gives concrete evidence for the exceedingly long wait times across the nation. ☎ In their research, ECG “secret shoppers” contacted close to 170 medical practices in each metro area to try to establish care with a doctor. This was typically for the “third next available non-urgent appointment,” and for medical conditions that wouldn’t have needed a prior authorization or referral-- including primary care. 🚷 Jennifer Moody, a partner at ECG, was shocked at what the secret patients encountered. "One of the takeaways was how difficult the patient experience is. Not only did our secret shoppers have to go out and find physicians, they had to sit on the phone sometimes on very long holds, and go through multiple barriers and jump through hoops," Ms. Moody said. "Even in that case, they weren't successful in scheduling appointments with all the practices they called. I think of the average consumer who might be having a similar experience." 🏙 A key takeaway from the article was that despite their concentration of physicians across various specialties, metro areas didn’t typically guarantee timely access for receiving medical care, with an average of up to an over 30 day wait to see a provider in Chicago, Denver, Seattle, and Boston (where it was 70 days). This problem is of course exacerbated in rural areas and small cities with a lower density of providers to begin with. ➡ Read more about this urgent issue here: https://lnkd.in/e776amYf #patientwaittimes #healthcareaccess #primarycare #specialtycare #hospitals #healthcareleadership #alignedproviders #beckershealthcare

How your practice engages with patients makes a difference in patient satisfaction and retention. Here's how practices can meet the evolving demands of patients and develop the right strategies to enhance engagement. 🩺 "It’s easy for practice owners to get wrapped up in the idea that just implementing the latest cutting-edge technology is the most straightforward solution to enhancing patient satisfaction. But effective patient engagement begins with the understanding that using one approach won’t move the needle for either the patient or the provider. Leveraging the right technology that streamlines patient communication and education, while also enabling providers to tailor approaches to meet every patient’s unique needs, is the first step in crafting a truly effective patient engagement strategy." #Physicians #Doctors #PhysicianPractice #MedicalPractice

Enhancing Quality Improvement in Hospitals with ORControl™ Quality Improvement (QI) in healthcare isn’t just about outcomes—it’s about creating smoother, safer, and more efficient processes. ORControl™ empowers hospitals with minute-by-minute coordination, optimized OR utilization, and instant day-of-surgery insights, helping clinical teams stay aligned and proactive. By addressing challenges as they happen, ORControl supports a more streamlined, patient-centered approach to perioperative operations and day-of-surgery workflows. Learn more about how ORControl is transforming QI initiatives and advancing healthcare standards in this article by Becker's Health. View full article below ⬇

🌟 Attention Cardiologists! 🌟 Hey fellow heart heroes! 🫀 Exciting news from Majestic Medical Billing! 💼 Are you a cardiologist running an outpatient practice in 2024? Here are the top 5 things you should know to keep your practice thriving and hearts beating strong! 🚀 1️⃣ Embrace Telehealth: In the digital age, telehealth is the heartbeat of patient care. Stay connected with your patients and offer virtual consultations for routine check-ups, saving time and ensuring accessibility. 2️⃣ Optimize Revenue Cycle Management: Maximize your revenue by partnering with Majestic Medical Billing! Our cutting-edge billing solutions ensure accurate coding, faster reimbursements, and a healthy financial pulse for your practice. 3️⃣ Stay Compliant with Regulations: Navigate the complex healthcare landscape with ease by staying up-to-date on the latest regulations. Compliance is key to avoiding penalties and maintaining the trust of your patients. 4️⃣ Invest in Advanced Diagnostic Technology: Keep your practice at the forefront of cardiac care by investing in the latest diagnostic technologies. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for better patient outcomes. 5️⃣ Enhance Patient Engagement: Foster strong doctor-patient relationships by utilizing patient portals, educational materials, and proactive communication. Engaged patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, leading to improved overall health. At Majestic Medical Billing, we're committed to supporting your cardiology practice every step of the way. Let us help you navigate the future of outpatient cardiology with confidence and success! 💙🏥✨ #Cardiology #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalBilling #MajesticMedicalBilling #HeartHealth #Telehealth #RevenueCycleManagement #CardiologistsRock #cardiologylife #healthcareheroes #medicalbillingmadeeasy #practicelife #successtips #cardiologyexcellence #healthcareleadership #practicerefinement #physicianempowerment

This article by Professor Henry Cutler presents some worrisome facts about that state of the elective surgical backlog and the policy levers needed which have been shown to work in the past here, and overseas. I am really pleased that Q-bital Healthcare Solutions (APAC) has real, practical solutions once a metric or target is put in place. Once hospitals are given a mandate to tackle the backlog, we can provide temporary infrastructure to assist in the surge in throughput required to catch up.

A lack of alignment and harmonization among subsystems in a hospital setting will result in what is often referred to as “system noise.” This term metaphorically describes the disruptions and inefficiencies that occur when different parts of a larger system fail to work cohesively. System noise in a hospital can manifest in various detrimental ways, including decreased efficiency, increased costs, heightened risks, and the need for additional staffing. For instance, if the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system is not well-integrated across departments such as radiology, pharmacy, and patient admissions, clinicians might struggle to access vital patient information swiftly. This disjoint can delay medical decisions, increase the risk of errors, and require extra staff efforts to manually reconcile patient data across departments. Moreover, misalignment between scheduling systems in surgery and anesthesia departments can lead to inefficiencies like prolonged waiting times for patients and underused operating rooms. Ensuring seamless integration and alignment of all hospital subsystems is crucial. It minimizes system noise, thereby optimizing patient care, reducing operational costs, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the hospital’s operations. #HealthcareInnovation #HospitalEfficiency #EHRSystems #PatientCare #HealthcareManagement #SystemIntegration #OperationalExcellence #MedicalErrors #HealthcareCosts #QualityOfCare

https://lnkd.in/efJ-Zhtf Another big step in workforce transformation and supporting patient access to care. These changes always bring up opportunities and challenges. With strong governance measures I believe this will truly help maximise timely access to patient care. #workforcedevelopment #patientcare

Discover how big data and #machinelearning are transforming perioperative care. Learn how MPOG integrates #EHR data to enhance patient safety & quality improvement. Watch now to see the future in action! #Anesthesia #BigData #PatientSafety https://lnkd.in/gdg79Kxj

As a physician, opening your own #AmbulatorySurgeryCenter can be rewarding, both financially and in terms of delivering positive patient outcomes and serving your community. Our new guide offers a detailed breakdown of every step of the process of building an #ASC, from feasibility analysis to equipment selection to staffing and training: https://hubs.ly/Q02V8R570