[Chris Lassiter]

Thank you for your question. A time study is a great way to make sure you are scheduling in the most efficient and productive way possible. It may take 2 weeks to complete the study; you want to be sure you gather data for every procedure that is offered. It is a simple process – Use index cards to record time the patient arrives, time they are taken to operatory, when procedure begins and when it is completed. Do this until you have information on all of the procedures in question. You can then find the average time that should be given for each particular appointment and adjust your schedule appropriately. By logging the arrival time and when a patient is taken to the operatory, you are also gathering data on wait times. I hope this helps.