Access to an outpatient cardiology consultation in southwestern Ontario.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there were differences in waiting time for a consultation for a nonurgent cardiology problem among specialists in an academic centre compared with those in community practice.


METHODS
Cross-sectional telephone survey.


METHODS
Southwestern Ontario.


METHODS
Academically affiliated and community-based specialists in cardiology or internal medicine with an interest in cardiology.


METHODS
Waiting period in weeks for outpatient consultation.


RESULTS
Among community specialists, those with cardiology training had significantly longer waiting times than those without for nonurgent cardiology consultation (median 8.6 versus 3.8 weeks, P=0.0077). Waiting times for consultation were significantly longer for academic specialists than for those in community practice (median 9.1 versus 4.1 weeks, P=0.0013). Significantly longer waiting times exist in communities with a population greater than 100,000 (median 9.1 versus 4.0 weeks, P=0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
Waiting times for consultation for a nonurgent cardiology problem are long. Waiting times are longer for physicians with certification in cardiology, in the academic medical centre and in larger communities.
Massel
D
D
The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. dmassel@lhsc.on.ca
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002309:Cardiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D011156:Population Density; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014850:Waiting Lists