---
name: shorten-access-time
description: "Read intake-to-first-appointment access time as the conversion lever and find where the delay loses referrals. Reach for this on an access or conversion question."
---

# Skill: Shorten access time

Marketing more referrals into a slow intake wastes spend (§3 #2).

## Step 1 — Measure access time
Days from first contact to first kept appointment, by referral source.

## Step 2 — Map the conversion drop
Where in the intake-to-first-appointment path referrals fall out (§3 #2).

## Step 3 — Localize the delay
Scheduling capacity, intake paperwork, or no-show at first visit (§3 #1 #2).

## Step 4 — Shorten before spending
Fix the access bottleneck before adding marketing (§3 #2).

## Output
An access-time read by referral source naming the delay that loses conversion. Traverse Tree 2 in the decision-trees file.