Adoption of open-access scheduling in an academic family practice.
OBJECTIVE
Patients have to wait too long to see their family physicians. Open access, a new approach to office scheduling, has shown promise in reducing patient wait times to see primary care physicians.


OBJECTIVE
To offer same-day appointments to most patients who call the office, thus reducing wait times as measured by the third available appointment. Reductions in no-show rates have also been reported by those who have adopted the open-access system.


METHODS
Following extensive preparation, a 2-site academic practice in Halifax, NS, adopted open-access booking in October 2008. Data on third available appointment times, no-show appointments, and patient volumes were tracked before and during the yearlong implementation.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinics recorded a substantial, sustained reduction in third available appointment time, indicating improved patient access. There was also a decline in no-show appointments. Patient volumes were unaffected.
Cameron
Stewart
S
Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, 8th Floor, Abbie Jane Lane Bldg, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS B3H 2E2. Stewart.Cameron@Dal.Ca
Sadler
Laura
L
Lawson
Beverley
B
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002170:Canada; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists