Patients Spend More Time Waiting For (Than Seeing) Docs
A national poll which highlights the need for increased healthcare efficiency, revealed that patients spend twice as much time waiting for their physicians as they actually spend with him or her. The poll results, sponsored by the Accounting for Time, Activity and Cost (ATAC) CPA Healthcare Network in Dallas were announced recently at the 1997 Conference for CPA/Medical Practice Consultants.
The sample size of more than 1,000 adults (telephone interviews) found that:
- 49 percent of patients say they spend 20 minutes or more in the waiting room and 54 percent say they spend at least 10 minutes or more in the examining room.
- Physicians spend less than 15 minutes with patients.
- However 49 percent say that their limited time, is quality time, rating physicians "excellent" or "good" at listening to inquiries. (Physicians Information Exchange, 314/982-8697)
HMO Enrollment Continues to Surge
HMO Enrollment is expected to soar despite concerns by consumers, political leaders and the media regarding issues on access, quality of care and limits on hospitalizations and treatment, according to a recent survey by the Deloite & Touche LLP accounting firm (Atlanta) and VHA Inc., an Irving, Texas-based healthcare performance improvement company.
The study highlighted that HMO penetration, on a national basis, was almost 26% in 1995, up 21% from 1994. Since most managed care studies focus on "supply side" issues - how well physicians, hospitals and other healthcare professionals provide services, this study sought consumer "demand side" feedback.
The study's key findings focused on what patients expected most:
- 61% want to see the same physician regularly.
- 44% want a physician to spend enough time with them.
- 42% want affordable office visits.
- 40% want free choice of physicians.
(Deloite & Touche, 404/220-1500; 972/830-0000)
Obesity Aside, Most Americans Aware of Diet, Exercise Benefits
Although obesity is on the rise, the vast majority of Americans know that proper diet and exercise can reduce life-threatening health risks leading many to correct unhealthy lifestyles, according to a recent study by CDB Research and Consulting Inc.(New York). The study suggested that optimistic trends toward a healthier lifestyle were long-term and will eventually bring down obesity rates, according to Dr. Larry Chiagouris, CDB's executive VP and managing director.
The study found that:
- Twice as many adults are incorporating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables into their diets today (32%) vs. 1994 (15%).
- 66% say they are exercising the recommended three times a week.
- Professionals are more likely to exercise (69%) than not (58%).
(CDB Research, 212/367-6829)
Is Your State Healthy?
| Top 5 Healthiest States in America | |
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Hawaii |
| 2 | Minnesota |
| 3 | Connecticut |
| 4 | New Hampshire |
| 5 | Utah |
| Least Healthiest States in America | |
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Tennessee |
| 2 | Alabama |
| 3 | Louisiana |
| 4 | West Virginia |
| 5 | Arkansas |
Morgan Quitno Press, an independent research and publishing company in Lawrence, Kan., recently released its "1997 Healthiest State Awards," based on 23 health-related factors that range from low birthweights and infant mortality rates to the number of community hospitals per 1,000 sq. miles and percentage of adult smokers. The following ranks this year's top five and least five "healthiest states" in America:
The complete ranking is taken from Morgan Quitno's Health Care State Rankings 1997, an annual reference guide that compares the 50 states in 512 healthcare categories. (Morgan Quitno, 913/841-3534)