Achieving waiting list reform: a pilot program integrating waiting time, category and patient factors

摘要: Equity in resource allocation is central to the tenet of social justice health care. The management surgical waiting lists critical importance clinicians, patients and regulators. In most hospital environments, basic process has remained unchanged for decades. Patients are assigned one three urgency-related categories. Clinicians consequently administer competing patient pools. basis by which selected treatment may be difficult define. specific clinical circumstances each often unreported unknown those administering list. Waiting list bias also recognised. This reflect clinician advocacy, pressure meet category timeframe restrictions or perceived training requirements. this environment, it demonstrate propriety We report implementation a pilot program redesign within South Australian public unit. allows assemblage into single Overall priority determined balancing acuity time. determination takes account both primary characteristics that relevant their intended procedure. Uniquely, applicable containing with dissimilar conditions. paper reviews limitations current approaches meeting reasonable community expectations. principles justification underpinning reform introduced. Finally, benefits offered discussed interim results reported.