Increased treatment package time is an independent poor prognostic factor for outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Similarly the timeliness of treatment initiation is a risk factor for disease recurrence. Despite these well-known issues, the timeliness of treatment initiation is actually worsening in the United States and the expeditious completion of radiation treatments continues to be difficult secondary to a number of patients and treatment related issues. This analysis evaluates the current data on treatment intervals in the management of head and neck cancer. Rapid staging/diagnosis of head and neck cancer, appropriate referrals to providers qualified to treat said cancer, and expeditious treatment completion remains the most cost-effective, widely applicable method to improve outcomes in head and neck cancer.