By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    mosquito misting spray to fight malaria
    Avoid Malaria with Mosquito Misting Systems
    June 12, 2023
    Medical Surveys
    Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
    September 23, 2023
    Glutathione
    What Are The Benefits of Glutathione?
    January 22, 2024
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Tips for Older Travelers
    April 14, 2012
    Anti-RUC Suit Challenges Process for Setting Doc Pay Scales
    October 25, 2011
    Math Matters: Dosing Errors Can Be Deadly
    May 1, 2012
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: What If Patients Billed Doctors for Time Waiting to Be Seen?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > What If Patients Billed Doctors for Time Waiting to Be Seen?
Wellness

What If Patients Billed Doctors for Time Waiting to Be Seen?

Stewart Gandolf
Stewart Gandolf
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

While languishing in a medical practice reception area, more than a few patients have fantasized about financial revenge, thinking: “I should send a bill to this doctor for making me wait so long.”

That’s not a fanciful idea. “In 2010, people in America spent 1.1 billion hours seeking health care for themselves or for loved ones,” recent academic studies tell us. So, if we all had sent a collective invoice, the total would be $52 billion. Our nation’s healthcare system is paying billions in “opportunity costs.”

While languishing in a medical practice reception area, more than a few patients have fantasized about financial revenge, thinking: “I should send a bill to this doctor for making me wait so long.”

That’s not a fanciful idea. “In 2010, people in America spent 1.1 billion hours seeking health care for themselves or for loved ones,” recent academic studies tell us. So, if we all had sent a collective invoice, the total would be $52 billion. Our nation’s healthcare system is paying billions in “opportunity costs.”

More Read

How Digital Technologies Are Transforming Rural Healthcare
Pandemic Pounds: How to Keep Weight Gain at Bay During the Coronavirus
BioPharma Beat: mHealth Apps – to Regulate or Not to Regulate
10 Kinds Of Body Pain That Could Be Linked To Foot Problems
What Are the Different Types of Therapy to Consider?

On average, “the total time per visit was 121 minutes with 37 minutes of travel time and 84 minutes of clinic time. The average opportunity cost per visit was $43, which exceeds the average patient’s out-of-pocket payment. For every dollar spent in visit reimbursement, an additional 15 cents were spent in opportunity costs.”

“The researchers said that it is important to consider time costs when evaluating innovative treatment and care delivery models designed to create higher value, more patient-centered care and to reduce health care disparities,” reports the Harvard Medical School.

“They noted that many initiatives currently underway might offer considerable benefits in reducing the time-cost burden of health care. These initiatives include streamlining office visits; incorporating clinics into schools, community centers, and places of work; and using new models of care delivery, such as telemedicine visits, e-visits and other Internet-powered medicine.”

Plus, the consequences for providers are also bad…

While these “hidden costs” are bad enough for patients, business and marketing professionals will immediately recognize additional downsides for medical practices that want to remain competitive.

As patients are increasingly empowered consumers, lengthy wait times, rising costs and time away from the job mean (a) some patients will simply avoid going for care, and/or (b) they will change doctors. What is the lifetime value of a patient who simply disappears (and goes to a competitor)?

Other unintended consequences pileup when lengthy service delays inspire poor online reviews or negative word-of-mouth references. It’s difficult to assign a cost to lost opportunity for the practice or hospital, but it’s costly.

The in-depth academic info is based on 2010 study data, so we suspect today’s “cost of waiting” is even higher. Links to the 2015 articles in the American Journal of Managed Care and JAMA Internal Medicine are:

Opportunity Costs of Ambulatory Medical Care, American Journal of Managed Care. An analysis of the opportunity cost associated with ambulatory medical care in the United States demonstrates substantial time costs for individuals and society. Am J Manag Care. 2015;21(8):567-574

Disparities in Time Spent Seeking Medical Care in the United States, JAMA Internal Medicine. The Institute of Medicine identifies timeliness of care as a key aspect of quality. Am J Manag Care. 2015;21(8):567-574

And for additional articles in this series, click through to:

  • Retail is Learning Healthcare Faster Than Healthcare is Learning Retail
  • Why I Hate Calling a Doctor’s Office
  • Patients Feel Healthcare Is Stuck in the Digital Dark Ages

Author information

Stewart Gandolf

Stewart Gandolf
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Healthcare Success Strategies

Stewart Gandolf, MBA, is CEO of Healthcare Success, a medical marketing and health care advertising agency. He is also a frequent writer and speaker. Most importantly, he is happily married and a “rock-n-roll daddy” to two wonderful girls.
TwitterGoogle+LinkedIn

The post What If Patients Billed Doctors for Time Waiting to Be Seen? appeared first on Healthcare Success.

TAGGED:doctordoctor-patient engagementphysician waiting room
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

boost body energy level
Wellness

7 Natural Ways to Boost Energy Levels in Your Body

November 9, 2021
don't sleep with contact lenses
Wellness

Why You Should Never Sleep While Wearing Your Contacts

April 4, 2023
tips to fight sarcopenia
Senior CareWellness

5 Tips To Fight Sarcopenia Through Proper Exercise And Nutrition

November 3, 2020

Advance Practice Nurse Solution: Making Healthcare Affordable for All

August 5, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?