BUSI_611
Scheduling for Better Provision of
Healthcare
Group 1
Liberty University
Online
BUSI 611: Operations Management for Health
Organizations
Abstract
Scheduling within healthcare has come a long way from the days of
handwritten appointments and appointment reminder cards. The traditional
aspect of scheduling has taken on a more modern-day approach and
functionality. As many healthcare organizations face globalization, the need
for electronic scheduling has become even more popular than ever before.
With Americans constantly focusing on convenience and affordability,
electronic scheduling has made healthcare organizations see the need for
convenient and effortless appointment scheduling. Although traditional (non-
automated) scheduling has its place, electronic scheduling platforms that
run on web-based or computer platforms not only help patients and
healthcare organizations to seamlessly book appointments, send out
automated emails, automated text message reminders, appointment
reminders, it also helps gather data to help the organization better service
their consumers and meet their needs. Platforms such as Epic, Cerner and
NextGen have all become
influential in the evolution of scheduling and better provisions for the
healthcare delivery system. The automatization of healthcare scheduling
,through an electronic platform will help healthcare organizations with
efficiency, cost, security, and convenience that will be beneficial for all
parties involved, often with patients and providers benefiting the most by
adding that extra level of convenience and continuity of care. Electronic
scheduling has taken on a more extensive role in healthcare including
formidable EMR access across all platforms, touchless dictation, and even
automated communication systems for the convenience of all customers and
their needs.
Keywords: traditional scheduling, electronic scheduling, non-automated
scheduling, electronic scheduling systems
Scheduling for Better Provision of Healthcare
There have been many technological advances in the healthcare
industry towards scheduling for patients, as well as healthcare workers.
These advances can decrease patient dissatisfaction, patient wait time,
patient quality of care, and patient satisfaction rates. It is explored within
this paper the traditional standpoint of patient scheduling, as well as
healthcare workers, versus electronic scheduling that is available for
utilization today. Patient appointment scheduling models attempt to reduce
patient waiting times and maximize the utilization of resources, equipment,
healthcare providers, and staff, and expand access to care (Langabeer &
Helton, 2021, p. 334). Traditional (non-automated) forms of scheduling can
create barriers and challenges for patients trying to obtain healthcare
services from having difficulty trying to reach a health organization
scheduler, long phone waiting times, limited appointment availability, and
,lack of healthcare providers. Many healthcare organizations are moving
towards electronic scheduling, running on computer platforms that utilize
and generate data that can produce more flexible and efficient scheduling
formats.
Traditional Appointment Scheduling
Healthcare providers struggle in today’s complex and dynamic
healthcare environment to achieve effective and efficient workflow,
optimally serve patients, and ensure timely care, excellent outcomes, and
satisfaction. Traditional patient appointments made with schedulers in
person or over the phone can present barriers for patients seeking services
(Zhao et al., 2017). The challenges present themselves in being able to
reach a scheduler when there are busy
waiting phone lines and times and having limited availability for
appointments. Patients want more convenient, easier, and faster ways to
make appointments for their needed services, but traditional scheduling
systems using phones leave them underwhelmed. There needs to be an
, improvement in the availability of appointments, and data must be
compiled to understand scheduling inefficiencies and where these
improvements need to be made (Yan et al., 2015). These inefficiencies
and conundrums in patient scheduling are rooted in having a lack of
accessibility in obtaining an appointment and having a mismatch between
a limited supply of resources, staff, and providers.
Adverse Effects of Traditional Scheduling
Traditional appointment scheduling systems lead to increased patient
absenteeism (Huang, 2016). Some patients book appointments months in
advance and often forget about their appointments if they are not reminded
of them. Some healthcare organizations will overbook additional patients
since they expect some patients not to show up. It may often result in a lack
of coordination, congested facilities, lack of productivity, and dissatisfaction
of patients. Additionally, patients with non-urgent needs may obtain
appointments for services and can have
a higher possibility of noncompliance and appointment no-shows, which
limits the accessibility of urgent patients to receive care. Difficulties with
healthcare access and lengthy and prolonged appointment waiting times
can become burdens on patients who face the risk of diminished quality of
healthcare and can result in adverse health outcomes from not receiving
timely care (Brandenburg et al., 2015). These difficulties limit chronic and
acute care management patients’ access to see healthcare providers for
routine checks and follow-ups. Healthcare practice aims to ensure patients
can receive timely quality care and this care this to be continuous to ensure
Scheduling for Better Provision of
Healthcare
Group 1
Liberty University
Online
BUSI 611: Operations Management for Health
Organizations
Abstract
Scheduling within healthcare has come a long way from the days of
handwritten appointments and appointment reminder cards. The traditional
aspect of scheduling has taken on a more modern-day approach and
functionality. As many healthcare organizations face globalization, the need
for electronic scheduling has become even more popular than ever before.
With Americans constantly focusing on convenience and affordability,
electronic scheduling has made healthcare organizations see the need for
convenient and effortless appointment scheduling. Although traditional (non-
automated) scheduling has its place, electronic scheduling platforms that
run on web-based or computer platforms not only help patients and
healthcare organizations to seamlessly book appointments, send out
automated emails, automated text message reminders, appointment
reminders, it also helps gather data to help the organization better service
their consumers and meet their needs. Platforms such as Epic, Cerner and
NextGen have all become
influential in the evolution of scheduling and better provisions for the
healthcare delivery system. The automatization of healthcare scheduling
,through an electronic platform will help healthcare organizations with
efficiency, cost, security, and convenience that will be beneficial for all
parties involved, often with patients and providers benefiting the most by
adding that extra level of convenience and continuity of care. Electronic
scheduling has taken on a more extensive role in healthcare including
formidable EMR access across all platforms, touchless dictation, and even
automated communication systems for the convenience of all customers and
their needs.
Keywords: traditional scheduling, electronic scheduling, non-automated
scheduling, electronic scheduling systems
Scheduling for Better Provision of Healthcare
There have been many technological advances in the healthcare
industry towards scheduling for patients, as well as healthcare workers.
These advances can decrease patient dissatisfaction, patient wait time,
patient quality of care, and patient satisfaction rates. It is explored within
this paper the traditional standpoint of patient scheduling, as well as
healthcare workers, versus electronic scheduling that is available for
utilization today. Patient appointment scheduling models attempt to reduce
patient waiting times and maximize the utilization of resources, equipment,
healthcare providers, and staff, and expand access to care (Langabeer &
Helton, 2021, p. 334). Traditional (non-automated) forms of scheduling can
create barriers and challenges for patients trying to obtain healthcare
services from having difficulty trying to reach a health organization
scheduler, long phone waiting times, limited appointment availability, and
,lack of healthcare providers. Many healthcare organizations are moving
towards electronic scheduling, running on computer platforms that utilize
and generate data that can produce more flexible and efficient scheduling
formats.
Traditional Appointment Scheduling
Healthcare providers struggle in today’s complex and dynamic
healthcare environment to achieve effective and efficient workflow,
optimally serve patients, and ensure timely care, excellent outcomes, and
satisfaction. Traditional patient appointments made with schedulers in
person or over the phone can present barriers for patients seeking services
(Zhao et al., 2017). The challenges present themselves in being able to
reach a scheduler when there are busy
waiting phone lines and times and having limited availability for
appointments. Patients want more convenient, easier, and faster ways to
make appointments for their needed services, but traditional scheduling
systems using phones leave them underwhelmed. There needs to be an
, improvement in the availability of appointments, and data must be
compiled to understand scheduling inefficiencies and where these
improvements need to be made (Yan et al., 2015). These inefficiencies
and conundrums in patient scheduling are rooted in having a lack of
accessibility in obtaining an appointment and having a mismatch between
a limited supply of resources, staff, and providers.
Adverse Effects of Traditional Scheduling
Traditional appointment scheduling systems lead to increased patient
absenteeism (Huang, 2016). Some patients book appointments months in
advance and often forget about their appointments if they are not reminded
of them. Some healthcare organizations will overbook additional patients
since they expect some patients not to show up. It may often result in a lack
of coordination, congested facilities, lack of productivity, and dissatisfaction
of patients. Additionally, patients with non-urgent needs may obtain
appointments for services and can have
a higher possibility of noncompliance and appointment no-shows, which
limits the accessibility of urgent patients to receive care. Difficulties with
healthcare access and lengthy and prolonged appointment waiting times
can become burdens on patients who face the risk of diminished quality of
healthcare and can result in adverse health outcomes from not receiving
timely care (Brandenburg et al., 2015). These difficulties limit chronic and
acute care management patients’ access to see healthcare providers for
routine checks and follow-ups. Healthcare practice aims to ensure patients
can receive timely quality care and this care this to be continuous to ensure
