In "wave scheduling," how are appointments typically organized?

In wave scheduling, the approach involves scheduling a group of patients to come in at the same time, often at the beginning of a specific time block. This method allows for a more dynamic and efficient handling of patient flow while accommodating varying service times. By bringing several patients in simultaneously, it enables the healthcare provider to address each patient's needs as they come in while managing the overall workflow more effectively.

This organizational style helps to reduce gaps in the schedule and maximizes the use of the provider's time. It is particularly beneficial for practices expecting varying lengths of appointment times, as it can help balance the workload throughout the day.

Other scheduling options like evenly spaced appointments, seeing patients only upon their arrival, or random assignment do not capture the specific structure of wave scheduling, where there is a defined grouping of patients at a set time.