The Executives

Abstract

The rapid growth of the country’s population means more people are visiting medical institutions to receive health care. Long waiting time in the outpatient department has always been an issue that became a norm. This study aims to assess if there is a demand for an online appointment system and if it could be a tool for patient visit satisfaction, better time management and efficiency for both the patients and hospital management. This study is a quantitative research that will focus on the demand of online appointment system through the use of survey and interview. One hundred questionnaire forms were administered to patients for seven days in the hospital. Through the use of the survey and interview it was found out that ninety-five percent of the one hundred patients expressed that having an online appointment system in the hospital is important. Eighty-five percent of the patients who answered that they might transfer to other hospitals that practiced online appointment system. Ninety-eight percent of the patients claimed that having an online appointment system will help lessen waiting time in the hospital. The use of different appointment methods combined with technology can help reduce the waiting time and facilitate the flow of patients within the week to better manage and boost productivity in other days where there are idle times.

Keywords: Online appointment system, long waiting times, patient scheduling, patient visit satisfaction.