xRead Article 1 - Electronic Consults in Otolaryngology

.005

Medicare

1.303

1.084 1.568 0.835 1.959 0.444 19.251

Self-pay

1.279

.258

Worker’s compensation fund

2.922

.265

Clinic setting

Main University clinic

Reference category

—

—

.002

Satellite clinic

1.302

1.105 1.535

Age category

≥ 18 y old

Reference category

—

—

< .001

<18 y old

0.662

0.544 0.807 0.521 0.615

a

< .001

Total wait time

0.566

Note . Bold values indicate signi " cance.

a Per additional 10 minutes.

Discussion The American healthcare system has evolved to place a growing emphasis on patient centered care versus traditional disease-centered care. Patient satisfaction, a key component of patient-centered care, has been designated as an important metric in determining healthcare quality and physician reimbursement. It is therefore crucial to have valid measurements of satisfaction, and to understand the factors that impact satisfaction. Our " ndings highlight the importance of wait times on patient satisfaction. This " nding has been consistently demonstrated across specialties. There has been limited data on the signi " cance of wait times in otolaryngology literature. One study in pediatric otolaryngology demonstrated wait time was predictive of overall patient 31,32 33-36,41,52

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