Primary care patients and staff perceptions of self-rooming as alternative to waiting rooms

Most patients are escorted to exam rooms (escorted rooming) although patients directing themselves to their exam room (self-rooming) saves patient and staff time while increasing patient satisfaction. In this study by the PATH collaborative, HIP Investigators Dr. Edmond Ramly and Dr. Maureen Smith along with other authors surveyed patients and staff in 25 primary care clinics after their institution expanded self-rooming from 4 specially built clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They found that 86% patients preferred self-rooming, especially among patients aged <65 years and in family medicine clinics, along with over half of staff surveyed. They conclude that self-rooming is a patient-centered innovation that is also acceptable to staff.