Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 2 Career Skills in Health Informatics
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Scheduling
An effi cient schedule avoids long wait times for patients and
maintains a consistent fl ow of appointments for physicians (Figure 2.14).
Effective scheduling is a skill that requires practice and experience. Most
clinics and offi ces use a computerized scheduling program, but paper and
electronic scheduling systems both use the same guidelines.
Each page of the schedule is divided into segments of time, often
15 minutes. Each column can be used for a different physician, dentist, or
other healthcare provider. There may be a separate column for scheduling
lab appointments. The page must have enough space to list the patient’s
name, reason for appointment, and contact phone number.
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Doctor Solara Doctor Burns
Appointment Schedule for November 20
Figure 2.14 This patient
appointment book notes
when a healthcare worker
should expect his or her
patients.