Theory and Pract. Scheduling + Matrix

60 minutes

New patients

45-60 mins

Preventative care appts (physical exams, annual wellness, chronic care management

30 mins

non patient bookings (staff meetings, peer reviews, meeting with pharmaceutical or device representatives)

20 mins

Urgent care visits

15 mins

Established patients for sick, follow up, or consultation visits

Stream Scheduling

Most common, each pt has specific and individual appt time, appt intervals spread throughout the day

Wave scheduling

several patients booked at the same time and seen in the order they arrive, medical urgency dictates otherwise

Modified wave scheduling

several patients booked at same time in the first half hour, second half hour is blocked

Double booking

Another wave scheduling form, two or more patients are scheduled for the same time slot, each patient needs entirety of chosen slot

When is it not considered a double booking?

If pt only needs a portion of the time slot (5-10 mins) or if pt is scheduled for a non-provider visit like RN injection

Cluster scheduling

Grouping similar appts into scheduled blocks. Easier for physicians to see multiple patients who need the same service during the same time frame

Give an ex. of cluster scheduling

Pediatrician only offering sports physicals Mondays and Wednesdays from 1500-1800.

Open office hours

(Walk-ins), facility is open during specified times, patients seen in the order they arrive. No scheduled appts

Acute illness visits

“same day sick visits)

Schedule Matrix

grip/template used to outline provider’s availability and block off times they’re unavailable. often broken into 15 min intervals

Practice management software

admin facing side of electronic records