Improving Follow-ups With Gastroenterologists Utilizing an Appointment Scheduling Protocol in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

O ne of the national public health goals, Healthy 2030, underscores timely access to healthcare (Office of Disease prevention and Health promotion, 2020). However, a 2013 national survey estimates that 14.6% of adults who needed healthcare right away could not see a healthcare provider (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2018). In particular, long and unpredictable wait times for clinic appointments remain an ongoing challenge for many outpatient specialty clinics, including gastroenterology (GI) clinics. Delays in care are associated with higher morbidity and mortality and lower quality of life in many chronic health conditions (Kaplan, Lopez, & McGinnis, 2015; Office of Disease prevention and Health promotion, 2020). Nonetheless, due to the appointment scheduling practice lacking standardization and benchmarks in various care settings including specialty clinics nationwide, the wait time varies significantly (Institute of Medicine, 2015).Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing-and-remitting inflammation of the