Increase Operational Efficiency Through Scheduling Options

March 13, 2018

Performance Transformation

Optimizing physician schedules improves operational efficiency and provider productivity. Several scheduling strategies are available, as no single option fits all medical groups. The model that is best for your practice will depend on your specialty and other factors. For example, consider these scheduling options:

Cluster Scheduling involves establishing a schedule template for groups of patients with similar problems or conditions.
Wave Scheduling consists of scheduling patients for a given block arriving on the half hour or hour instead of scheduling patients on each quarter hour. For instance, a physician may schedule four patients in one hour. Under wave scheduling, they might be asked to arrive on the hour with the provider seeing each patient in the sequence of their arrival.
Stream Scheduling involves giving a patient a specific appointment time. Most offices use this method for scheduling appointments.
Practice-Based Scheduling entails using practice- or procedure-based scheduling where the practice determines the patient schedule centered on certain patient types or issues. This type of appointment setting might apply in an orthopedic office, primary care office, or cardiology practice for services like cast removals, allergy injections, and Coumadin management, respectively.
Open Access or Same-Day Scheduling is a method of scheduling in which all patients can receive an appointment slot on the day they call, almost always with their physician or provider.

Social Share

Contributors

Brandt Jewell

Senior Vice President

Share this post

Related Insights

View All Insights

CMS Publishes CY2021 Final Rule

Is Your EHR Company Holding Your Patient Data Hostage?

EHR companies may charge an excessive fee to retrieve your patients’ data.

Revenue Cycle Management-How Well is Your Practice?

Revenue Cycle Management - It's More Than You Think

Lawmakers Grapple with Artificial Intelligence Regulation as Popularity and Utilization Grow

ChatGPT could improve providers' productivity

Managing Health System Access Points in the Wake of COVID-19

Is Your Talent Pipeline Full, Half Empty, or Totally Dry? Developing Internal and External Talent

Physician Compensation Technology Partnership Redefines Value

Top Trends in Healthcare for 2023

What's on the horizon for 2023?

Telehealth Post-PHE: How to Prepare for Reduced Reimbursement and Increased Regulatory Scrutiny

A Strategic Systematic Approach to Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA): A Living Plan for Your Community's Health Improvement

Pursuing Patient Access: Explore Strategies to Maximize Value for Patients, Providers, and Health Systems

Employee Incentive Programs in an Era of Change

Planning and Managing Provider Compensation: A Checklist-Based Approach

Streamline provider compensation management with actionable steps to improve compliance and transparency.

Webinar - Bundled Payments: What All Providers Should Know About This Emerging Payment Model

Why is a Fair Market Value/Commercial Reasonableness Opinion Important for Value-Based Enterprises?

FMV/CR documentation ensures market and economic reasonability.

Increase Operational Efficiency Through Scheduling Options

5 Fatal IT Vendor Contract Mistakes

Prevent devastating consequences that can adversely impact the company.

Healthcare Consulting Firm, Coker, Announces Acquisition of NorthGauge Healthcare Advisors

Five Questions to Consider when Evaluating Readiness for Value-Based Care

Going Beyond EHR: Leveraging AI and Digital Transformation Strategies

Unlocking the Future of Healthcare: How AI and Digital Transformation Enhance EHR Capabilities

MACRA Implementation: Have you Established a Plan to Succeed?

Health System Practice Investment: What’s the Cost?

Hospitals’ multi-specialty physician groups invested almost $196,000 per employed physician.

The Year in Review

Four Areas to Incorporate in Your Hospital Service Line Strategic Planning

2018 Updates to Macra

Interim Management: Allow your Organization Time to Find Expert Leadership

HCC and RAF Management: The Key to Success in Value-Based Contracts

PSA Progression: What’s Next in the Evolution of Professional Services Agreements?

Strategic Planning Video Series: Outline Your Course

Tactics to achieve strategies, goals, and objectives.

Does Your HIT Vendor Contract Leave Your Organization Exposed and at Risk?

Missing Links of Revenue Cycle Management

Revenue and Quality Integrity: A Comprehensive Approach to Coding, Compliance, and Clinical Documentation

Beyond Borders: Telemedicine’s Vital Role in Healthcare Transformation

Telemedicine bridges the gap in access to healthcare for rural communities.

Aligning Hospitals and Physicians with Clinical Co-Management Agreements

Moving Forward With MACRA: A Review of Progress, Changes, and Preparation

Revenue Cycle Management – Look Out for the Red Flags!

Prepare Your Organization for Unexpected Leadership Gaps

Major Changes to Split/Shared Billing Affect Advanced Practice Providers and Physicians

6 key effects of the split/shared billing changes.

Address Community Need with Physician Income Guarantee Arrangements

Physician income guarantees are not just good for the physician.

Interim “C” Suite Management: Develop a Customized Job Description

Get your MACRA House in Order: How to Plan for & Mine Your Own Specialty Data

Physician Compensation Advice: Are Your Compensation Arrangements Fair Market Value and Commercially Reasonable?

Strategic Planning Video Series: Set Mile Markers Along the Road

90% of organizations fail to execute their strategies successfully.

What Are Your Margins? Owing to MACRA/MIPS, They Soon May Change

Challenges of Clinical Documentation

Find, Develop, and Retain Successful Executive Leaders—a Three-pronged Approach!

Expanded Guidance from CMS for Telehealth Services Provided at Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Announcing the Acquisition of Healthcare Consulting Firm, TTG Healthcare Advisors

Practice Management: An Integrated Approach to Short- and Long-term Improvement

Patient Access

Leadership Development and Succession Planning

wRVUS: Are yours accurate?

Are Single-Specialty CINs as Valuable as Multispecialty CINs?

Vendor Selection and Negotiating EHR Vendor Contracts

Avoiding Four Common Pitfalls in Revenue Cycle Management

2021 Physician Fee Schedule Updated after COVID-19 Stimulus Package Signed

Solidifying Organizational Development: Identifying and Retaining Leadership for Your Organizational Culture

Direct to Employer Contracting Arrangements: A Response to Rising Premiums and Compromised Care

Let’s Talk about Why Qualitative Information Matters in Your Physician Needs Assessment

The medical community's input and health system leadership can be vital to a comprehensive physician needs assessment.

Chief Information Officers: Exceptional Leaders Address their Sub-Cultures

Has Your Practice Had an Annual Exam? Check These ‘Vital Signs’ to Assess the Health of Your Operations

Physician Practice Mergers: Leveraging Strength in Numbers

Don’t Write-Off Timely Filing Denials

Practice administrator recovered over $60,000 in unpaid claims that would have otherwise been written off.

Bridging the Gap from Fee-For-Service to Fee-For-Value (Without Losing Your Mind)

Revenue Cycle: The Devil is in the Details

Key Factors for Developing High-Potential Employees

Compensation in a Value-Based World—It’s Well Underway

Coker Interviews AHLA President Rob Niccolini

Another Blow for Hospitals: The Ongoing Battle of Site Neutral Payments

Navigating the Documentation of Community Need

CMS Issues 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

The conversion factor will decrease by 4.5%.

Navigating the Digital Transformation Maze in Healthcare

Insights from the 2024 Becker's IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference

MACRA—What IS it?

It’s Always a Good Time to Clean Up Your Vendor Contracts

Contracts can renew automatically without permission or approval.

Understanding Value-Based Compensation Models

How should physician compensation models evolve with the shift toward value?

Direct to Employer Contracting Arrangements – A Response to Rising Premiums and Compromised Care

Interim Management: What Makes it Effective?

Three Quick Tips to Get You Started with the New E/M Guidelines

Aligning Physician Compensation in a Value-based World

Maximizing Reimbursement in the Telemedicine Environment

Physician Shortage of 139,000 Projected by 2033

Collections Guarantee or Stipend? That is the Question!

What's the best way to staff your ER?