If you expect more, you can have more.
Research shows that wait times to see your doctor go up every year. Our office spends time looking at research on healthcare trends so that we can buck these trends in our office to make you life easier, and to make our work more efficient and fulfilling. We aren’t happy if we aren’t making other peoples lives better.
The average delay time between calling and seeing a medical specialist varies depending on the specialty and location, but overall it has been increasing in recent years. Here are some key points:
1. The average wait time across medical specialties is about 26-38 days:
– A 2022 survey by AMN Healthcare found the average wait time for new patient appointments across five specialties was 26 days, up 8% from 2017 and 24% from 2004[1][3]. Wait times were already too long.
– A more recent study by ECG Management Consultants found the average wait for the third next available appointment across 11 specialties in 23 metro areas was 38 days[2][4].
2. Wait times vary significantly by specialty:
– Rheumatology had the longest average wait time at 68 days[2].
– Neurology had the second longest at 63 days[2].
– Cardiology averaged 26.6 days, up 26% from 2017[3].
– Dermatology averaged 34.5 days[3].
– Obstetrics/gynecology averaged 31.4 days[3].
– Orthopedic surgery had shorter waits, averaging 16.9-20 days[2][3].
3. Family medicine was an exception, with wait times decreasing:
The average wait for family medicine appointments was 20.6 days, down 30% from 2017[3].
This is great, except that most people don’t need to see family medicine. Americans have been trained by the medical community to need “Specialists”.
4. Wait times also vary by location:
– Boston had the longest average wait at 70 days[4].
– Houston had the shortest average wait at 27 days[4].
5. Only 6% of the metropolitan market and specialty combinations surveyed had an average wait time of 14 days or less, which has long been considered an industry benchmark[2][4].
Factors such as urgency of the medical issue in the eyes of the scheduling team, insurance type, and local physician availability can all impact actual wait times.
WHY is this important for people in Southern Maine?
When you have a problem, you want to be seen today…or at least “soon”. If problems worsen with time, which they often do, there is more to deal with when it finally comes to receiving treatment.
Rheumatology deals with arthritis and joints.
Neurologists deal with nerves and your brain.
Orthopedists deal with bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other structural deviations.
The word orthopedist comes from the Greek The word has its origins in Ancient Greek, derived from two components:
“orthos” (ὀρθός) meaning “straight” or “correct”
“pedó” (πεδώ) meaning “to prevent a distortion” or “to bind”.
This definition overlaps heavily with the benefit and mission of chiropractic, the difference? Chiropractic straightens, corrects, prevents and manages structural and neurological distortion – without drugs or surgery.
Modern day problems in these specialties are typically dealt with using drugs, surgery, and physical therapy. In order to get these treatments, you must first wait for your appointment, then wait for the doctors report, then receive treatment or referral to another specialist.
Chiropractors work in the realm of neurology, orthopedics and rheumatology, but without drugs and surgery. Chiropractors are also trained in physiotherapy and can also refer you to specialists when needed. Chiropractors are the drug free doctors who have non-invasive, proven safe tools and techniques for helping with the pain and misery of issues involving the aforementioned systems within the body.
At our office, we get new patients in the door within a week. Not because we aren’t busy, but because we care about you not waiting to get the care you need. We also acknowledge that science has shown that waiting can be detrimental to the healing process.
We expedite reports and the beginning of treatment around your schedule.
If we can’t help you we know someone who can.
We still take insurance, including medicare and Mainecare.
We have reduced fees for out of pocket payment for those who enroll in ChiroHealth USA.
We won’t give you drugs.
You will have your doctors cell phone number.
You will always have access to your provider.
Your choices determine the quality of your life. Make educated decisions.
Citations:
[1] https://www.amnhealthcare.com/blog/physician/perm/physician-appointment-wait-times-getting-longer/
[2] https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/strategy/the-38-day-delay-what-the-wait-time-average-says-about-healthcare-access.html
[3] https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/wait-times.html
[4] https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/08/in-the-u-s-wait-times-to-see-a-doctor-can-be-agonizingly-long/
[5] https://www.tebra.com/theintake/healthcare-reports/patient-scheduling/patient-wait-time-report
[6] https://time.com/6313270/doctors-overworked-patients-access/