Reader Question: Consider Block Scheduling to Balance Late Patient Back-Ups

Article Overview

This article discusses a common ambulatory practice scheduling problem: patients arriving late and disrupting the day’s flow. It explains general scheduling approaches used in medical offices, why late arrivals can affect patients and staff, and a non-clinical workflow strategy practices may consider to better balance appointments and provider timing. The piece is aimed at office managers, schedulers, and practice staff looking for operational guidance rather than coding guidance.