VA Wait Times Rachael Wolff

1. System failure

1.1. Cause for delays

1.1.1. Limited locations

1.1.2. Limited providers

1.1.3. Long process to get referrals

1.1.4. Patient information not updated

1.1.5. Patients can't get through to make appointments

1.1.6. No max days set for wait time

1.2. Provider responsibility

1.2.1. Keeping up with communication

1.2.2. Following up with patients who miss appointments

1.2.3. Have reasonable appointment time allocations to not cause long waits in the waiting room

1.3. Patient responsibility

1.3.1. Keep the VA updated with current contact info

1.3.2. Use online portal to communicate with provider and request appointments faster

1.4. Overloaded system

1.4.1. Outdated hospitals and clinics

1.4.2. Outdated software or EMR

1.4.3. Not enough ancillary staffing for providers

1.4.4. More veterans returning home, more veterans using the VA

2. Solutions

2.1. Faster referral process

2.2. More locations

2.3. More providers

2.4. More partnerships with community care providers

2.5. Eliminate the need for PCP to determine testing needed for specialty care.

2.6. Patient education for all resources

2.7. Updated hospitals and clinics

2.7.1. Build more of each.

2.8. More modern EMR software and scheduling system

2.9. Establish a max wait time allowed

3. References

3.1. Nackerdien, Z. (2019, January 27). Is the va getting a bad rap for wait times? Retrieved February 22, 2021, from Is the VA Getting a Bad Rap for Wait Times?

3.2. Heath, S. (2020, September 29). VA receives poor marks on PATIENT APPOINTMENT wait times. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from VA Receives Poor Marks on Patient Appointment Wait Times

4. Wait Times

4.1. Average VA wait time

4.1.1. 17.5 days

4.1.1.1. Improvement since 2014

4.2. Average private sector wait times

4.2.1. 22.5 days

4.2.1.1. Decrease since 2014

5. Appointment request process

5.1. 1. Request appointment with PCP

5.2. 2. Visit PCP to get referral

5.3. 3. PCP sends patient for testing to see if referral is needed

5.3.1. Lab work

5.3.2. Diagnostic imaging

5.3.3. EKG

5.4. 4. PCP determines if further evaluation is needed. If yes, patient referral is submitted to the specialty provider.

5.5. 5. Specialty clinic reviews referral. Accepts or declines referral.

5.6. 6. If accepted, the patient is now contacted for scheduling the appointment.

5.7. 7. Patient has initial visit with specialty provider. Determines if more testing is required.

5.8. 8. If more testing is required, patient is sent for additional testing or repeat testing.

5.9. 9. Specialty provider reviews results and contacts patient to either come back to clinic or discuss over the phone.

5.10. 10. Treatment is then started finally if warranted.

6. Affects from wait times

6.1. Patients fall through the cracks

6.2. Illness worsens

6.3. Patient stops trying to seek medical care