Impact of adjustment measures on reducing outpatient waiting time in a community hospital: application of a computer simulation.

Background: As an important determinant of patient satisfaction, waiting time, has gained increasing attention in the field of health care services. The present study aimed to illustrate the distribution characteristics of waiting time in a community hospital and explore the impact of potential measures to reduce outpatient waiting time based on a computer simulation approach.

Methods: During a one-month study period in 2006, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a community hospital located in Shanghai, China.