Wait Times for Neurology Appointments in the Cognitive Care Pathway

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In a cross-sectional telephone survey of 150 US neurology clinics, the mean wait for the earliest memory-concern appointment was 17.9 weeks.
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Specialized clinics had a longer mean wait than community clinics: 21.1 weeks vs 15.6 weeks.
3

The estimated waits exceeded prior claims-based estimates of about 7 weeks after clinician referral, but differences in referral patterns and measurement methods may explain the gap.
4

Strategies to address neurologist waits include improving referral preparation and triage, expanding the workforce, and advocating for policy changes.
5

Timely cognitive care also depends on addressing upstream barriers, including stigma, limited clinician confidence, inconsistent cognitive testing, and time and financial constraints.

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