How to Manage Patient Flow

Patient flow is a major concern in many doctors' offices, medical labs and urgent care facilities. How quickly patients are served is key to keeping any office running smoothly and on time. Many patients are not feeling well and may be uncomfortable waiting for long periods. All patients resent arriving on time only to be left sitting in the waiting room. Good patient flow helps ensure that the most pressing medical emergencies are dealt with first and that every patient's needs are met in an efficient and timely fashion.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask patients to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. This allows time for them to fill out paperwork and have it completed before they see the doctor. This will help keep appointments on time and flowing smoothly.

• 2

  Greet all patients with a smile. This will help ease tension and calm the anxiety of patients who are likely to be agitated by the stress of a doctor's appointment.

• 3

  Ask patients if there is any new information to be added to their charts, then update the charts according to office policy. This makes check-in for future appointments easier.

• 4

  Ask patients for insurance information as they sign in. Calling a patient back to the front desk to verify insurance takes time away from other patients who are waiting to check in.

• 5

  Have a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant on staff. They can handle routine medical problems, such as colds, flu and small injuries. This leaves the doctor more time to focus on the more serious cases.