TY - JOUR T1 - Adoption of open-access scheduling in an academic family practice JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 906 LP - 911 VL - 56 IS - 9 AU - Stewart Cameron AU - Laura Sadler AU - Beverley Lawson Y1 - 2010/09/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/56/9/906.abstract N2 - PROBLEM ADDRESSED Patients have to wait too long to see their family physicians. Open access, a new approach to office scheduling, has shown promise in reducing patient wait times to see primary care physicians. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM To offer same-day appointments to most patients who call the office, thus reducing wait times as measured by the third available appointment. Reductions in no-show rates have also been reported by those who have adopted the open-access system. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Following extensive preparation, a 2-site academic practice in Halifax, NS, adopted open-access booking in October 2008. Data on third available appointment times, no-show appointments, and patient volumes were tracked before and during the yearlong implementation. CONCLUSION The clinics recorded a substantial, sustained reduction in third available appointment time, indicating improved patient access. There was also a decline in no-show appointments. Patient volumes were unaffected. ER -