The Hershey access clinic: a model for improving patient access.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Healthcare Access
• Patient Care

Background:

• Long wait times for new (4 months) and return (2 months) dermatology appointments at Hershey Medical Center prompted the creation of an access clinic.
• The clinic aimed to improve access for patients with urgent dermatologic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the newly implemented Hershey access clinic on patient care.
• To assess patient satisfaction with the access clinic model.

Main Methods:

• Patient surveys were utilized to gather feedback following clinic visits.
• Data analysis focused on patient satisfaction, no-show rates, and waiting times for routine appointments.

Main Results:

• High patient satisfaction was reported for the access clinic.
• No significant impact was observed on no-show rates or routine appointment waiting times.
• Common conditions treated included skin eruptions (57%, e.g., acne/rosacea) and neoplasms (43%, e.g., warts).

Conclusions:

• The Hershey access clinic effectively manages acute dermatologic issues and achieves high patient satisfaction.
• Limitations include reliance on patient-reported outcomes via surveys.
• Further research may be needed to address wait times for routine care.