A STUDY ON WAITING TIME OF PATIENTS IN PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT IN SELECTED HOSPITAL

Patients' waiting time in the OPD has been identified as the length of time from when the patient entered the name in outpatient department to the time the patient actually enters the physician’s room. Pediatric OPDs are considered as the window to hospital services and a patient's impression of the hospital begins at the pediatric OPD. Objectivess: The average time taken from when the patients register in out-patient department till the entry of the pediatric ENT OPD’s consultant’s room, to suggest how this waiting time can be reduced and it will increase patient’s satisfaction. Results: The waiting time of 40 patients in pediatric ENT outpatient department of chord road hospital has been assessed. The study results showed that 24 patients in pediatric ENT outpatient department of chord road hospital have been waiting 4for 15-20 mins from the time of registering to till the entry of the physician’s room. 16 patients in pediatric ENT outpatient department of chord road hospital have been waiting for 25-35 mins from the time of registering to till the entry of the physician’s room of Chord Road Hospital Pvt.Ltd., Bengaluru. The association between observation day and waiting time of respondents revealed that 60% of the respondents are waiting for 15-20 mins from registration to till entering of the pediatric ENT OPD,s room and 40% of the respondents are waiting for 25-35 mins from registration to till entering of the pediatric ENT OPD,s room of Chord Road Hospital Pvt.Ltd., Bengaluru. Conclusion: It is necessary to increase the number of health care members in the hospital and to improve health care delivery system to reduce the waiting time of patients and it will increase the patient’s satisfaction on health care delivery system. Thus student researcher had a satisfying and learning experience throughout the study.