US patients suffer long wait and travel times, which aren’t improving

Published February 22, 2019 11:00am ET



Wait and travel times for healthcare services on average are higher than those of any other professional service, from vehicle repair to getting a driver’s license, according to a new study released Friday by the nonprofit research and consulting group Altarum. The industry has failed to lower travel and wait times over the 11 years between 2006 and 2017.

In the study, Altarum found that time spent traveling and waiting for medical care exceeded the time spent actually receiving care by about 50 percent. The value of work or leisure time foregone in order to travel to or wait for healthcare professionals amounts to about $89 billion annually.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.