|
Purpose |
Automated updates of exam start times to be communicated to waiting patients |
|
Tag(s) |
Non-Interpretative, wait time, outpatient, automated |
|
Panel |
Patient Facing |
|
Define-AI ID |
19110002 |
|
Originator |
Patient Facing Panel |
|
Panel Chair |
Michael Moore |
| Non-Interpretive Chairs | Alexander J. Towbin, Adam Prater |
|
Panel Reviewers |
Patient Facing Panel |
|
License |
|
| Status | Public Comment |
Research shows that patients in routine outpatient imaging are not necessarily dissatisfied because their wait is long, but they are dissatisfied when the wait time is longer than expected. It is known that updating patients on delays can significantly improve the patient experience and result in higher satisfaction scores.
A patient arrives appropriately 30 minutes before the appointed exam time at 9 am. They sign in at the front desk, fill out any necessary paperwork, and wait to be called to get their imaging study.
The technologist who is supposed to be calling the patient may experience a delay, such as a technical issue with their equipment, or a delay related to a previous patient that had a complication of a contrast reaction or an inpatient that arrived late due to transport issues. While the technologist is dealing with their issue, they do not at the same time have the opportunity to let the front desk patient know about the delay. In the meantime, the patient is getting anxious because they have not been called on the appointed time, and they need to know whether this is a minor delay (10 minutes), or will take longer. Patients may need to inform their employers or families about delays, or cancel/reschedule any other appointments that day. Patients who are paid in hourly wages may experience financial loss related to imaging delays.
Calculate each patient wait time. Deliver this information to staff to let patients know or by notifying patients directly.
Number of Available Imaging Equipment
|
Definition |
Number of imaging equipment with staff operating it |
Number of available technicians
|
Definition |
Number of radiology technologists operating the equipment at the same time |
Patients in queue
|
Definition |
Number of patients scheduled per time point per equipment per location. |
|
Potential Feature(s) |
Number of patients and exam type for each. |
Average time for each procedure
|
Definition |
the time it takes to complete a procedure |
|
Potential Feature(s) |
time from waiting area to changing room, time from changing room to equipment room, time from start to end of exam |
Patient check-in time
|
Definition |
when the patient checks in at the front desk |
Patients estimated wait time
|
Definition |
For each patient, estimate the time they will be called for their imaging study based on the set of input features |
|
Data Type |
Numeric |
|
Value Set |
N/A |
|
Units |
Minutes |