APPOINTMENT SYSTEMS Flashcards
open-hours scheduling
patients arrive at their own convenience with the understanding that they will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, unless there is an emergency. May have a long wait time. Increases the possibility of inefficient downtime for the provider.
ex. public health clinics and urgent care centers
time-specified scheduling
scheduling patients at a regular, specified interval. Minor medical problems usually require 15-minute appointments. Leaves more time to schedule physical exams or procedures that can require a 30 to 60 minute appointment. Controls the flow of the day and how the doctor’s time is spent.
wave scheduling
works best in large medical facilities that have enough departments or personnel to give service to several patients at one time. The medical assistant asks the patients to all arrive at the top of the hour. This system is based on the experience that some patients will arrive late for the appointment while others may need more time for an appointment than initially expected. Patients are seen in the order of their actual arrival time. Patients can become annoyed or angry if they realize that several patients have an appointment at the same time.
double booking
when two or more patients are scheduled for the same appointment. Assumes that both patients will be seen at the same time slot. If the visits are short or there are multiple practitioners available, it can make sense to double book. If both patients need the whole time slot, then the office falls behind. Helps when a patient calls and needs to be seen that day.
cluster scheduling
grouping similar appointments together during the day or week. Helpful when specialized equipment or services are available only during certain times.
advance scheduling
books patients weeks or months in advance. The provider usually leaves a few slots open every day to accommodate urgent appointments.
