Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Thanks From a Newbie

Hi Fellow ACers,

Just wanted to thank all of you who have helped so much during our first few months. Couldn't have done it without ya.
I have gotten to where I can finish my notes during an encounter now and am using the feature for printing the plan to give to the patients. They love it. My labcorp interface allows me to review the labs, make comments and send to my nurse to handle.
Our new modified open access, "southwest airline or cattle call" style is working great. The patients only get to have one problem addressed during these visits, no papers signed, no more than one med refilled. Pts love getting in and out quickly yet knowing I'll spend the time we need when they have a scheduled appt.
We are almost caught up on the billing. Yeah!!
Thanks again to everyone-AC and this community are amazing!

You are welcome, but you are NOT a newbie. How about if we promote you from a white belt to a yellow belt? Or at least yellow tip.

I solemnly bow to that honor.

I have to be careful about funny and cute posts without any substance as I don't want to be accused of just trying to hit the 2,000 mark.

Oops, I am sure that Paul knew I wouldn't be able to not bring it up.

How does your modified open access work? I've been trying to go to a fast day/slow day type schedule where on fast days I review labs or do one issue and stay right on time, and slow days are for my patients who have more issues or require more time. My practice is an urban internal medicine practice which is about 2/3 geriatric.

Yes, I would like to know that as well. Actually, I have never heard of it. The only access I know about is made by Microsoft.

Scott your system sounds good.
I have about the same percentage of geriatric patients. I see patients each day until 3pm. My appts are 20-40min long. Starting at 3 pm we do a "cattle call". Folks are advised that they will see me for ten minutes or less. They can have one problem and one problem only addressed. Only one med can be refilled. No paperwork. Sometimes I do procedures like injections then. The patients love getting in and out quickly when they are sick. We love it because it ends our day with easy visits. I don't do this on Wednesdays because I leave one day a week for folks who can't come in earlier. I limit my new pt visits to my 9 am and 1pm slots on mwf. I also allow one new pt every other wednesday at 4pm to accomodate folks who can't come in earlier. I put a pt New New in the computer and booked them into the slots I mentioned. That way when the front office goes to look for slots, they can see exactly when the next new pt visit is. Works for us.

Would love to hear more details about your system. Thanks

I've ben doing open access scheduling for 14 years. it started when my first and only partner left the practice. I am in a rural area and do old fashion hospital Int med, proceedures and consults. These are usually done by 9am. a light schedule of regular IM patients in the am with open slots for work-ins. My staff will do a complete intake history on work ins. I'll see them (the work ins)for problem only and then invite them back for followup and preventative screening as it is identified in the history. Same type of schedule for the afternoon. I also see work comp the same day they call in. they leave the office with full documentation and instructions. Prior to AC, I used dragon medical. It works well, the day always looks full at 5:00pm. Did I mention 90 minutes for raquetball 4 days a week? I really like the open access scheduling.

It's so funny how open access can work. It's like having faith in the force or build it and they will come. Right now things are a bit slow now that most of the physicals are done and it is not quite cold and flu season yet, although that is starting to change. We do book a few people out in advance for certain things and give folks the opportunity to lock in an appointment because they know they are free from work on a certain day. But most of our slots are empty the night before and like you said most days the schedule naturally fills itself up. And yes folks really do love being able to get in the same or next day.

We really try not to squeeze in too many last minutes because that puts you behind and then all the patients behind that point then get held up. We think making people wait too long is one of the rude parts of the modern busy practice too. But I do like Vickie's end of the day cattle calls idea. Of if you call after 2-3 o'clock and we are just about full then you only get the one issue no matter what visit. Quick level 3, in and out and bye-bye. If you've got more on your plate please make a f/u appointment. Better than making them wait or go to urgent care for sure.... I'll have to run this one by Nancy this coming week...