As the technology around us continues to advance, our lives continue to become more efficient. Now more than ever, things like transportation, shopping and dining are increasingly accessible to consumers. However, the medical field has lagged behind these other industries. Why is that?

With the passing of the Affordable Care Act, more citizens have become insured thus increasing the demands for health care. Alarmingly the average patient must wait 18 days for a physician and in some high-density cities such as Boston; the wait time is as high as 66 days for an appointment. Long waits to access care endanger patient well-being and damage health systems’ reputations and finances.

But don’t fear, there are solutions to embrace. Acknowledging the necessity for change in health care is simple, but how would a successful health care system go about acting on this knowledge?

Creating a specific approach aimed at accessibility and efficiency is the first step. Hospitals and health systems that develop patient-centered scheduling systems will reap the extraordinary benefits of a healthier and more satisfied patient base.

Our recent white paper—How Accessible is Your Health System? Identifying and Solving Patient Access Problems—describes the challenges of creating a more accessible health system, and explores the latest solutions. Learn how to move your own health system toward greater accessibility with emerging technology and improved protocols.