Measuring and managing waiting times: what's to be done?
On September 11, 2000, the First Ministers of Canada issued a communiqué pledging to develop and report on waiting times for a number of diagnostic and treatment services. Reporting is to begin by September 2002. Given this commitment, what are the ideal characteristics of such a data collection system? This article defines and evaluates methods of measuring waiting times, and recommends a prioritized waiting-time information system to permit both measurement and management.
DeCoster
Carolyn
C
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006292:Health Priorities; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D014850:Waiting Lists