A new model to decrease time-to-appointment wait for gastroenterology evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Quality Improvement
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Lengthy wait times for subspecialty appointments are a significant barrier to patient care.
• Gastroenterology divisions often face challenges in managing new patient influx and appointment scheduling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a quality improvement intervention aimed at increasing new-patient access.
• To decrease the time-to-appointment wait for gastroenterology care.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a novel care model featuring a general pediatrician for initial evaluation of specified clinical complaints.
• Utilized a nurse navigator for patient triage and mystery shoppers to assess appointment wait times.
• Analyzed patient encounters over an 8-month period and surveyed patient/family satisfaction.

Main Results:

• The "access" pediatrician managed approximately 40% of new gastroenterology patients.
• New-patient wait times decreased from an average of 25 days to less than 1 day.
• High parent/family satisfaction was reported for patients seen by the pediatrician.

Conclusions:

• Embedding a general pediatrician within a subspecialty division effectively increases access for low- to moderate-complexity cases.
• This model enhances patient satisfaction, ensures quality care, and reduces the need for subspecialist referrals.
• The intervention offers a potential solution to lengthy appointment wait times in academic medical centers.