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Same-day scheduling in a public health clinic: a pilot study
Stephen D Mallard1, Terri Leakeas, W Jack Duncan
1Clinical Services Department, Jefferson County Department of Health, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP
|February 18, 2004
Summary
Same-day scheduling improves patient access and provider efficiency by completing patient care on the day of the request. This model reduces wait times and no-shows, enhancing overall healthcare delivery.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Medical Practice Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Patient and provider dissatisfaction is rising with traditional scheduling.
- Same-day scheduling is gaining traction in various healthcare settings.
- Current models often fail to meet immediate patient needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of implementing same-day scheduling in a public health clinic.
- To assess changes in patient access, wait times, and provider productivity.
- To determine the feasibility and benefits of same-day scheduling.
Main Methods:
- An experimental introduction of same-day scheduling was conducted.
- Key performance indicators such as waiting times, no-show rates, new patient volume, and provider productivity were measured.
- Data was collected before and after the implementation.
Main Results:
- Same-day scheduling led to significantly shorter patient waiting times.
- A reduction in no-show rates (or an increase in show rates) was observed.
- The study documented an increase in new patient appointments and improved provider productivity.
Conclusions:
- Same-day scheduling is a viable and beneficial model for public health clinics.
- The implementation resulted in measurable improvements in operational efficiency and patient access.
- The success of this pilot study led to the expansion of the model to all clinics within the health department.