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Key Points
- The article discusses the common frustration of waiting for long periods of time, focusing on the medical field where patients often experience significant delays.
- The author notes that while people are becoming more mindful of their time in other aspects of life, patients are having to wait longer for appointments, with a 30% increase in wait times from 2014 to 2017.
- The article challenges the acceptance of long wait times in healthcare, arguing that patients should not have to be "patient" when it comes to their health.
- The author promotes the use of Solv, a service that allows patients to book same-day appointments and avoid long wait times.
- The article ends with a call to action, asking readers to share their experiences with waiting for healthcare services.
You have plans to meet your friend for dinner at 6pm. She shows up at 6:31pm. You’re annoyed.
School ends at 3pm and you pick up your child at 4:15pm. You’re in trouble.
You abandon websites that take more than 3 seconds to load. You don’t have time.
You show up for your doctor’s appointment on time, but you wait 49 minutes. You….accept it!There’s nothing you can do about it… You silently let your frustration grow and condition worsen while feverishly jumping from app to app on your phone….
The experience getting medical care has gone largely unchallenged and unchecked.
Somewhere down the line, patients (noun) were expected to be extremely patient (adjective). You were expected to forego your expectations and accept delays far beyond what you would tolerate among friends or family.
Between 2014 and 2017, the mindfulness and intentional living trends have been on the rise. We are learning how to optimize our time, say “no” more, and protect ourselves from the external forces that detract from our overall happiness and quality of life. However, there is one trend that is moving in the opposite direction. In 2014, patients had to wait an average of 18.5 days to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Three years later, there has been a 30% increase in that number and patients are being forced to wait an average of 24 days to schedule an appointment.
We understand that emergencies happen. We too want doctors that give us the time and energy we deserve. But we also believe it is time to prioritize you as a patient and stop accepting that sacrificing large amounts of your time is just how it is. When you book with Solv, you can make a same-day appointment and skip the wait.
There are enough adjectives required when you are the patient, being patient is not one of them. Save your energy to be compassionate, strong, efficient, prepared, calm, empathetic, brave, or whatever you feel like being.
We want to hear from you. Tell us about your waiting-room experiences (the good and the bad) and how you have begun to make healthcare work for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the issue with the current experience of getting medical care?
The current issue with the experience of getting medical care is that patients are expected to tolerate long waits for appointments, often far longer than they would in other aspects of life.How have waiting times for doctor's appointments changed between 2014 and 2017?
Between 2014 and 2017, there has been a 30% increase in the average waiting time to schedule a doctor's appointment. In 2014, patients had to wait an average of 18.5 days, and by 2017, this had increased to an average of 24 days.What is the impact of long waiting times on patients?
Long waiting times can lead to increased frustration and potentially worsening of a patient's condition. It also detracts from the patient's overall happiness and quality of life.What is the trend of mindfulness and intentional living?
The trend of mindfulness and intentional living involves learning how to optimize our time, say “no” more, and protect ourselves from external forces that detract from our overall happiness and quality of life.What is Solv's solution to the problem of long waiting times for doctor's appointments?
Solv offers a solution where you can book a same-day appointment and skip the wait, prioritizing the patient's time.How does Solv view the role of the patient?
Solv believes that patients should not have to be patient in terms of waiting for care. They should be able to focus their energy on being compassionate, strong, efficient, prepared, calm, empathetic, brave, or whatever they feel like being.Is Solv interested in hearing about patients' experiences with healthcare?
Yes, Solv is interested in hearing from patients about their experiences in waiting rooms, both good and bad, and how they have begun to make healthcare work for them.How does the article suggest people feel about waiting in other contexts, such as for friends or for websites to load?
The article suggests that in other contexts, people are less tolerant of waiting. For example, they might be annoyed if a friend is late for dinner, or abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.
