Waiting time prioritisation for specialist services in Italy: The homogeneous waiting time groups approach

Giuliano Mariotti, Luigi Siciliani, Vincenzo Rebba (), Rita Fellini, Maria Gentilini, Giorgio Benea, Pierpaolo Bertoli, Lorenzo Bistolfi, Salvatore Brugaletta, Pierluigi Camboa, Paola Casucci, Dino Dessi, Pierpaolo Faronato, Mariangela Galante, Alessio Gioffredi, Teresa Maria Guarino, Enrico Pofi and Carlo Liva

Health Policy, 2014, vol. 117, issue 1, 54-63

Abstract: The demand for referrals and diagnostic procedures in Italy has been rising constantly in recent years, making access to diagnostic services increasingly difficult with significant waiting times. A number of Health Authorities (known as Local Health Units) have responded by implementing formalised waiting-time prioritisation tools, giving rise to what are known as Homogeneous Waiting Groups (HWGs). The study describes the implementation of the HWG approach in Italy. This represents a promising tool for improving the prioritisation of patients waiting to see a specialist or to receive a diagnostic test. The study of the Italian HWG experience provides useful insights to improve the outpatient referral process for those countries where the demand prioritisation policies have focused more on inpatient care than outpatient specialist care and diagnostic services.

Keywords: Outpatient services; Waiting lists; Prioritisation; Primary care; Diffusion of innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:117:y:2014:i:1:p:54-63

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.01.018

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