While I see how well this works for you, I think your experience is greatly skewed by what a work force you have at your fingertips. You have more providers than most of us, an office manager, multiple nurses, admin staff, mid-levels etc. For those of us who are solo and are our own CEO, CMO, CTO, CIO, COO, etc., we can't afford to have our schedule bombarded with unnecessary appointments that all fall on one person to handle. I can tell you that 90% of people who ask me for appts don't end up needing them. So why not prevent the appt from being made in the first place? They are still getting advice and care without blocking a spot from someone else. I know my patients and they would race to beat the next one to the punch and all such slots would be filled every day, as there aren't very many! It sounds like you think parental anxiety is greatly relieved by just knowing they can make that appt. And I get that. But there are other ways of alleviating that anxiety. I allow self scheduling for WCCs but leaving the decision in the hands of patients about what needs to come in acutely is terrifying. But if I had the buffers you do, I might be less afraid. Just my 2 cents.
all fair points and as they say “when you’ve seen one dpc, you’ve seen one dpc!” it also helps when our patients are trained to know what they need one for versus what they don’t…which takes time and varies by patients. appreciate your perspective here Dr Galla!
While I see how well this works for you, I think your experience is greatly skewed by what a work force you have at your fingertips. You have more providers than most of us, an office manager, multiple nurses, admin staff, mid-levels etc. For those of us who are solo and are our own CEO, CMO, CTO, CIO, COO, etc., we can't afford to have our schedule bombarded with unnecessary appointments that all fall on one person to handle. I can tell you that 90% of people who ask me for appts don't end up needing them. So why not prevent the appt from being made in the first place? They are still getting advice and care without blocking a spot from someone else. I know my patients and they would race to beat the next one to the punch and all such slots would be filled every day, as there aren't very many! It sounds like you think parental anxiety is greatly relieved by just knowing they can make that appt. And I get that. But there are other ways of alleviating that anxiety. I allow self scheduling for WCCs but leaving the decision in the hands of patients about what needs to come in acutely is terrifying. But if I had the buffers you do, I might be less afraid. Just my 2 cents.
all fair points and as they say “when you’ve seen one dpc, you’ve seen one dpc!” it also helps when our patients are trained to know what they need one for versus what they don’t…which takes time and varies by patients. appreciate your perspective here Dr Galla!