Which scheduling approach is used to maximize clinic throughput by overlapping appointment times?

• A. Wave scheduling
• B. Cluster scheduling
• C. Fixed scheduling
• D. Double booking

Answer: (D)

Overlapping appointment times to keep the provider as busy as possible is achieved by double booking. The idea is to place two patients in the same time slot so if one visit ends early or runs shorter than expected, the next patient can be started sooner, reducing idle time and increasing overall throughput. This approach helps when no-shows are common or visit lengths vary, but it can increase waiting times for the second patient if delays occur, so it requires careful policy and triage.

Wave scheduling does load multiple patients into a block of time but not by intentionally overlapping two patients in the exact same moment; it aims to distribute arrivals within a broader window. Cluster scheduling groups similar appointments to minimize transitions, while fixed scheduling assigns one patient per predetermined slot. These strategies influence flow differently and do not rely on overlapping the same time slot to maximize throughput.