Time from Booking Until Appointment and Healthcare Utilization in Hand Surgery Patients with Discretionary Conditions.

ABSTRACT: Delaying treatment for benign musculoskeletal conditions may allow patients to learn self-efficacy and develop coping strategies, leading to less medical intervention and reduced cost. We tested the hypothesis that time from booking until appointment is not associated with healthcare costs. We further tested the secondary hypothesis that time from booking to appointment is not associated with specific healthcare utilizations. We identified 16,750 patients (55 % women; mean age 50 years) making first clinic visits to hand surgeons at our hospital between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012. Booking time was defined as the time between the scheduling of an appointment and the actual visit. Imaging procedures, injections, nerve conduction studies, occupational therapy visits, surgery, and r

SUBMITTER: Kuntz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4642469 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature