Comparison of Wait Times for New Patients Between the Private Sector and United States Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of health care access among patients cared for within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.

Objectives

To determine wait times for new patients receiving care at VA medical centers and compare wait times in the VA medical centers with wait times in the private sector (PS).

Design, setting, and participants

A retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study was conducted of new appointment wait times for primary care, dermatology, cardiology, or orthopedics at VA medical centers in 15 major metropolitan areas in 2014 and 2017. Comparison data from the PS came from a published survey that used a secret shopper survey approach. Secondary analyses evaluated the change in overall and u

SUBMITTER: Penn M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6484544 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature