The practice of scheduling two or more patients to occupy the same appointment slot with a healthcare provider constitutes a specific resource allocation strategy. This scheduling method aims to optimize appointment availability and minimize periods of provider idleness. For example, a physician might schedule a quick follow-up appointment for one patient concurrently with a longer, more comprehensive examination for another, assuming the first will conclude before impacting the second.
This approach can enhance efficiency by reducing wasted time stemming from patient no-shows or shorter-than-anticipated appointments. Optimizing the utilization of provider time improves patient access to care by opening more slots and potentially decreasing wait times for appointments. Historically, this technique has been employed in practices experiencing high demand or significant rates of appointment cancellations, serving as a mechanism to maintain a consistent patient flow.