An access problem is a delay problem.  Consider the following:

• 40% of emergency department visits are not urgent, rather, they take place because they cannot see their primary care physician.*
• From 1997 to 2001 the percentage of people reportaing an inablity to obtain a timely appointment rose from 23% to 33%.*
• For 2001, 43% of adults reporting an urgent condition were unable to receive care when they wanted.*

Assembly line medicine? Mark Murray, a former assistant chief of medicine for Kaiser Permanente, says that bringing the lessons of streamlined industries into health care is the way to reduce waiting times and improve access.