Proximity and waiting times in choice models for outpatient cardiological visits in Italy.

We apply mixed logit regression to investigate patients' choice of non-emergency outpatient cardiovascular specialists in Tuscany, Italy. We focused on the effects of travel time and waiting time. Results reveal that patients prefer clinics nearby and with shorter waiting times. Differences in patient choice depend on age and socioeconomic conditions, thus confirming equity concerns in the access of non-acute services. Our results could be used to optimize the allocation of resources, reduce inequities and increase the efficiency and responsiveness of outpatient systems considering patient preferences.