Average wait times in a primary care office are on the rise. In 2012, Alaska had the shortest average wait time at 16 minutes and 28 seconds, but it was more than a minute longer than the previous year's shortest average wait time of 15 minutes and 26 seconds in Wisconsin, according to a Vitals report.
Here are nine statistics on wait times and patient satisfaction from a survey administered by Software Advice, an Austin, Texas-based software consultation group.
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1. Eighty percent of respondents said being told the wait time would either completely or somewhat minimize their frustration.
2. Seventy percent said a personal apology from their physician would completely or somewhat minimize their frustration.
3. Free internet in the waiting room would completely or somewhat minimize frustration for 60 percent of respondents.
4. About 40 percent said they would be willing to see another physician if it meant a shorter waiting time.
5. Patients are evenly split in waiting location preference, with one third preferring an exam room, one third preferring the general waiting room and one third indicating no preference.
6. Almost 40 percent of female respondents said they would prefer to wait in a private exam room, compared to almost 30 percent of male respondents.
7. Fifteen percent of patients wait more than 30 minutes to see a physician.
8. About 20 percent of patients would be willing to pay an extra fee for quicker service.
9. Ninety-seven percent of patients are frustrated by wait times.
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