The Family Doctor's Appointment System

This two part article describes a study of appointment systems used in Alberta family practices, and ways in which appointment systems might be improved. Most respondents to the survey practiced in some form of expense-sharing system, most used three rooms in their practice, and urban physicians saw more patients per hour than did rural doctors. In setting up an appointment system, the physician's current practice should be studied and timed, then set up in blocks of eight visits, starting with two patients to allow for preparation time.