Performance metrics for advanced access

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Outpatient Management
• Healthcare Operations

Background:

• Advanced access is an outpatient scheduling strategy designed to provide same-day appointments.
• The goal is to minimize patient wait times and improve care continuity by balancing appointment supply and demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose performance measures for monitoring advanced access implementation.
• To discuss strategies for sustaining advanced access in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews the principles and challenges of advanced access scheduling.
• It proposes key performance indicators (KPIs) for evaluating its effectiveness.
• Strategies for long-term sustainability are discussed based on operational factors.

Main Results:

• Sustaining advanced access requires addressing variations in physician practice styles, patient panel compositions, and patient preferences.
• Time-varying demand patterns present ongoing challenges to maintaining supply-demand balance.
• Performance measures are crucial for ongoing evaluation and adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Advanced access can significantly improve patient access and care continuity when effectively implemented and managed.
• Continuous monitoring and strategic adjustments are necessary to overcome inherent practice challenges and ensure long-term success.
• Clinic directors can utilize proposed measures and strategies to optimize their advanced access systems.