Understanding the determinants of wait time management - Review (2013)

Toward systematic reviews to understand the determinants of wait time management success to help decision-makers and managers better manage wait times

For the past two decades, access to healthcare services has been a critical issue in most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Long waits for core specialized healthcare services have consistently been identified as a key barrier to access to care and governments and organizations have responded with a range of strategies to better manage wait times.

This systematic review explored the next questions:

• Are there existing frameworks to identify potential explanatory factors for wait time management strategies (WTMS) success at the organizational level?
• What contextual and organizational factors can influence the success of WTMS implementation at the organizational level for scheduled care?
• What contextual and organizational factors can influence the success of WTMS sustainability at the organizational level for scheduled care?
• How can identifying such factors contribute to developing a tool to support managers in implementing and sustaining WTMS at the organizational level?