Patient scheduling can sometimes seem like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube. You twist and turn the parts, hoping to achieve a pattern that stays just out of reach. But effective scheduling methods result in greater satisfaction for employees and patients along with improved profitability.
Do you have formal procedures in place for creating daily appointment schedules? It’s worth the time and effort to develop a workable system. Use these tips to make the process easier for all involved.
- Create a priority ranking based on the complexity of patient visits. Provide the list to your employees so they can deal with less complicated issues via email or phone. Use work relative value units (wRVU) as the standard for maximizing your time.
- Not a day goes by without patients attempting to be fit in for an unscheduled visit. Set up a chart listing the 20 most common symptoms along with a grid that factors in appointment urgency and appointment length. This gives your employees a functional way to evaluate each patient and determine where they can work into the schedule.
- Don’t allow phone calls to become interruptions. Simply taking messages may not be sufficient. Establish a guide for your employees indicating which calls should be routed toward particular staff members along with criteria for calls that should be put through immediately.
Our live operator answering service will keep the lines of communication open, letting your employees focus on efficient appointment scheduling. We handle calls based on the protocols that you specify. Visit our website to learn more about our custom-designed call center services.