Medscape surveyed physicians to determine how often they fall behind on appointments and the reasons why. Here's what you need to know. 1. When asked how often they fall behind on their appointment schedule, physicians reported: • 28 percent daily • 36 percent several times per week • 13 percent once a week • 8 percent several times per month • 4 percent once per month • 6 percent less than once per month • 6 percent never 2. A majority of physicians, 45 percent, said they fell 16 to 30 minutes behind schedule, and 37 percent of physicians report to fall 15 minutes of less behind. 3. Only 2 percent of physicians reported falling behind more than 60 minutes with 12 percent falling 31 to 45 minutes behind and 3 percent creating wait times of 46 to 60 minutes. 4. Seventy-nine percent of physicians reported spending as much time per patients as required, even if it puts physicians behind schedule as the most common reason for falling behind. 5. Other reasons for falling behind included: • Patients arrive late to appointments with insufficient time to fill out the necessary forms – 66 percent • Physicians spend time in between appointments to record patient notes – 49 percent • Appointments are booked with insufficient time to address to needs of patients – 47 percent • Patients appointments are overbooked – 31 percent • Physicians on call tending to patient emergencies and surgeries – 26 percent Source
