Final answer:
Patients generally expect to be informed about wait times at healthcare facilities, and any significant delays should be explained. While the question does not specify an exact time, the 90th percentile metric suggests that a wait beyond 13.5 minutes might require an explanation. Knowledge of average waiting times and standard deviation helps manage patient expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertaining to how long patients should expect to wait before being seen by a provider touches on the importance of patient care and communication in the healthcare setting. While there is no specific time mentioned in the question for delays that should be explained, the principle stands that any significant delay should be communicated to the patient. However, based on the provided information regarding the 90th percentile being at 13.5 minutes, we can infer that any delay beyond this duration may warrant an explanation to the patient. Additionally, understanding that an 82nd percentile wait time in an emergency room is comparatively long is critical for gauging service efficiency.
Patients generally expect timely updates regarding their wait time. In medical settings where the average waiting time and standard deviation of waiting times are calculated, these metrics are used to manage expectations and improve patient satisfaction. For example, if the 90th percentile of wait times is 13.5 minutes, patients waiting longer should be informed about the cause of the delay and the estimated wait time, if possible.