Chapter 1: Scheduling

Wave Booking

*Patients come at same time *Appointments scheduled on each hour *Creates short term flexibility *Patients see provider in order of arrival *Track with sign-in sheet *Late patient does not disrupt schedule

Different types of patient scheduling

-Clustering -Double booking -Single booking -Walk in/open hours -Streaming -Wave -Modified

How to input new patient information

-Full name, birth date, address, and telephone number in the computer -Ask if the patient has a referral (require additional information) -preliminary information -figure out how long to make the appt and if the patient need anything done beforehand -Recieve first available appt -Make sure patient know location of facility -If the patient needs to pay at the time of visit go over financial agreement

Determine scheduling needs of the facility also new and established patients

-Keep the providers, patient's and facility needs in mind -Need to make sure an appointment works for all groups

Physician's preferences, needs, and schedule matrix

-Know the provider's work habits and style is important -Leave time to handle business responsibilities -Know availability of nursing staff -Matrix is a grid with time slots blocked out when the providers are unavailable or the office is closed

Arrange Procedures in the scheduling book

-Make sure Provider, equipment, and room is available -know how long procedure will take

Identify the patient

-Name (first&last) -D.O.B -Needs of the patient

Double booking scheduling

A type of appointment scheduling where two patients are given the same appointment time is called:

Cluster or Categorization Booking

Booking a number of patients who have specific needs together at different times of the day.

open booking (tidal wave scheduling)

Patients are not scheduled for a specific time, but told to come in at intermittent times. They are seen in the order in which they arrive.

Stream/time-specific scheduling

Scheduling patients for specific times at regular intervals. The amount of time allotted depends on the reason for the visit.

Modified Wave Booking

Wave booking can be modified in a couple of different ways. One example of this approach is to schedule two patients to come at 9 a.m. and one patient at 9:30 a.m. This hourly cycle is repeated throughout the day.