Baule Kathy A, Scott Linda D, Rosenberger Kelly D, Minore W Stephen
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, United States; Indiana University Ball Memorial Hospital, 2401 W. University Ave, Muncie, IN 47303, United States.
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, United States; University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, 701 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
Appl Nurs Res. 2017 Feb;33:54-60. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2016.10.009. Epub 2016 Oct 21.
A problem in many health care practices is deciding the appropriate appointment length for new and established patients. Patients become frustrated when there is inadequate time to have their needs met, yet when a patient's clinic time is spontaneously lengthened, the provider gets behind in schedule, causing delays and greater frustration for others.
The aims of this evidence based project were to determine whether implementation of a flexible appointment system would improve the current scheduling process in a pain clinic by allowing complex patients the opportunity to schedule a longer clinic appointment and would improve patient satisfaction.
This evidence-based practice innovation followed a program evaluation process using a descriptive, existing survey completed by clinic staff and patients.
A Midwestern pain clinic caring for patients with acute and chronic pain diagnoses.
A convenience sample of 120 patients were surveyed before and after the process change. Thirteen staff members completed the survey on SurveyMonkey pre and post procedural change at the same intervals the patients were surveyed.
Patients were more satisfied with the time that they spent in the exam room and the waiting room. The process change improved communication with staff and patients and provided an opportunity to discuss their concerns and health changes prior to their scheduled appointment.
Allowing an option for flexible scheduling in appointment lengths provided an opportunity to meet patient needs, offer improved service, and improve patient-provider communication.
在许多医疗实践中，一个问题是确定新患者和老患者合适的预约时长。当没有足够时间满足患者需求时，患者会感到沮丧，然而，当患者的门诊时间自发延长时，医生会延误日程，给其他患者造成延误并带来更大的沮丧感。
这个基于证据的项目旨在确定实施灵活预约系统是否会通过让病情复杂的患者有机会预约更长的门诊时间来改善疼痛诊所当前的预约流程，并提高患者满意度。
这个基于证据的实践创新遵循了一个项目评估过程，使用了由诊所工作人员和患者完成的描述性现有调查。
一家位于美国中西部的疼痛诊所，为患有急慢性疼痛诊断的患者提供护理。
在流程改变前后对120名患者进行了便利抽样调查。13名工作人员在与患者相同的时间间隔内，于程序改变前后在SurveyMonkey上完成了调查。
患者对他们在检查室和候诊室所花费的时间更满意。流程改变改善了与工作人员和患者的沟通，并提供了在预定预约之前讨论他们的担忧和健康变化的机会。
允许在预约时长上选择灵活安排，为满足患者需求、提供更好的服务以及改善医患沟通提供了机会。
