When thinking about backlogs in healthcare, the radiology worklist is often what comes to mind first. But backlogs often start much earlier in the healthcare process with access to care.
A recently published AMN Healthcare survey found that it takes an average of 31 days to schedule a doctor appointment in 15 of the largest United States metro areas. This is a 19% increase from 2022 and a 48% increase from 2004. Among these areas, Boston had the longest average doctor appointment wait time at 65 days.
The longer patients wait to see specialists, often the sicker they are when they arrive. This makes the need for triage and prioritization even more critical.
An aging population. Rising imaging demands. Radiologist shortages. It’s a perfect storm for exam backlogs.
And with 685 of surveyed radiology practices having unreported radiology exams, according to a 2024 Journal of Clinical Imaging study, your health system could be at risk (or already experiencing) extended inpatient stays, postponed patient treatment and lower patient satisfaction.
Read more about the challenges of backlogs and how it impacts your health system.
While there are things that need to improve on the front-end of the healthcare process, what can your health system do in the meantime to ensure backlogs are mitigated?
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