Average Wait Time For PCP Appointment

chase4284
Jul 15
3 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

According to our research, the national average wait time for a primary care physician (PCP) appointment has soared to 31 days in the United States. This is up 19% since 2022, when wait times were around 26 days. For international patients, this wait time can be even longer. Virtual pre-op appointments are faster, typically scheduled within a few minutes to a few days, cutting the wait time by more than 90%.

So why are wait times so high in the U.S.? It is most likely due to a growing shortage of

healthcare providers, especially in primary care, combined with increased patient demand and administrative backlogs. In many metropolitan areas, scheduling delays are worsened by inefficient appointment systems, slow insurance verification processes, and limited appointment availability. These factors not only lengthen wait times but also contribute to higher no-show rates and delayed care.

What you’ll learn in this article:

Average national wait times for PCP appointments and recent trends
Key factors driving long wait times across the U.S. healthcare system
Comparison of wait times by appointment type, medical specialty, country, and U.S. metropolitan area
The impact of wait times on patient outcomes
Benefits of virtual pre-op appointments in reducing delays

Wait Time by Appointment Type

We looked at the average wait time by appointment type for both in-person PCP appointments and virtual assessments. As you can see from the chart below, in-person PCP appointments can take upwards of 29 days to schedule. With virtual pre-op assessments, that time is drastically reduced to less than a day.

Impact of Wait Time on Patient Outcomes

The number of days a patient waits to be seen for a pre-op assessment can have an impact on the scheduling of their operation. Anywhere from 5% to 36% delays were reported, depending on the number of days to secure a PCP appointment.

Appointment Wait Times By Specialty

When a specialist is needed beyond or in place of the PCP visit, it can take an additional 12 to 33 days to schedule an appointment. Below is a breakdown of the average wait time to see a specialist.

PCP Appointment Wait Times by U.S. Metropolitan Area

While the U.S. national wait time average for PCP appointments is 31 days, this can vary by geographical location. For example, in Boston, MA, wait times are much higher than the average (as high as 65 days). In other less populated regions, wait times may be shorter than the national average.

PCP Appointment Wait Times by Country

Primary care wait times tend to be shorter in many countries compared to the U.S. Still, our research found that in some places, patients may wait several months for an appointment with a general practitioner.

Virtual Pre-op Appointments Available by Practice Type

Many facilities are now relying on virtual pre-op appointments to prepare patients for surgery. We looked at the percentage of facilities, from hospitals to telehealth providers, that offer virtual pre-op assessments.

Streamlined Pre-Op Services On Your Schedule

Preparing for surgery shouldn’t mean waiting weeks for an appointment. At MyPreOp, we complete your pre-op assessments entirely online, cutting wait times significantly compared to traditional offices. It’s faster, more convenient, and gets you to the operating room without unnecessary delays.

Book your virtual pre-op consultation today via our online scheduler, by calling (424) 224-9151, or emailing contact@mypreop.org.

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