When someone is seeking a diagnosis for a medical condition that requires a specialist, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. Doctor’s appointments are made, time is taken off work, insurance is involved. And then there is the wait.
According to a report by Merritt Hawkins, the average wait in 2022 to see a specialist in the U.S. was 26 days — up 8% since 2017, with specialty areas like dermatology and gynecology and obstetrics accruing even longer wait times. Added to the already lengthy time it takes to receive a referral from a primary care doctor, patients are waiting at least a month and a half before an appointment with a specialist might take place. During this time, stress, anxiety and untreated health conditions can lead to missed work, decreased productivity, and overall damage to an employee’s well-being.
