As a doctor, we are paid for our knowledge, the services we perform and our time.

Therefore, our time must be efficient so we can be allowed to perform our duties to the best of our abilities. The time that is allotted for the patient to see us differs depending if it is for

• a new patient
• recall patient
• report of findings
• treatment

The method that we use for time allotment is known as cluster booking.

When a patient is in the reception room (never the waiting room) we always want to give them a good first impression. For this reason, patients (especially a new patient) should not be seated in the reception room by themselves.

Cluster booking is accomplished when we schedule patients in groups or clusters of treatments. If you go to a nearby restaurant at noon, you would expect to see others at the restaurant having their lunch. If the restaurant is empty, you quickly wonder why you didn’t read the paper this morning to find out about the latest food poisoning scare!

The same concept occurs in your office.

When a patient enters your office, they naturally expect to see others there for treatment. To accomplish this effect, you have to schedule the patient in the following manner.

If, for example, you see patients from 9:00 a.m. until noon and again from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., it would be best if you schedule the patients starting at 9:00 a.m. proceeding toward noon and at the same time, schedule other patients from 11:45 a.m. proceeding backward toward 9:00 a.m.

This will create a hole or opening in the morning schedule in the middle. This is an opening for the new patient. Create a vacuum and it will be filled!

When the new patient comes in to fill out paperwork, he sees patients waiting to be called back to see the doctor prior to their appointment. And upon leaving, he sees patients also waiting to see the doctor. This would likewise be done for the afternoon appointments.

Lastly, cluster booking keeps the doctor’s momentum.

There is nothing more tiring to a doctor then to see one or two patients, sit down for 15 minutes at the desk for paperwork, treat another patient, sit down for a consultation, then treat another patient and on and on.

You get the picture. You become a human yo-yo. The staff has long known that life is wonderful when the doctor is on a roll!

Cluster Booking for Success:

• Makes the office look busy
• Creates a natural opening for new patients
• Keeps up the doctor’s momentum