Appointment Times in Private Practice

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Hi there

Just wondered what time length other private pods give their patients for routine treatment (i.e not new patient or biomech assessment).

Is 20/30/or40 mins the usual length of time? Look forward to hearing your responses!

Best wishes

Ms H

 

15-20 mins is common; depends on how support staff are utilised.

 

Hi Ms. H,

I allow each patient (including new ones) 30 mins.

I use a redirection reception service on my phone as I have no reception staff & this seems to work very well as I can allow the phone to ring in the knowledge that it will be answered by a nominated receptionist with access to my diary.

I have a varying price scale which also allows for extended patient treatments eg. nail surgery ( allow 1 hour appt.) for preparation pre & post op cleaning etc. & pre op assessment, advice etc.

If intensive chiropody is required (up to 1 hour duration), again there is a different price.

Even if I know the treatment may be a follow up appt. eg. dressing I still allow 30 mins as there is always paperwork etc. which can be done in any gaps.

As Craig mentioned if you employ a dedicated support team then your time scales would be adjusted accordingly.

Only my opinion but I find in P/P to allow myself a comfortable time scale for each appt. I am not stressed & nor are my fee paying patients kept waiting.

Perhaps I am just a lovely boss.

Regards,

 

One thing to keep in mind is that 3rd party payers (Health funds, Medicare, Dva, work cover etc ) all have minimum appointment lengths that must be maintained to stay within their individual rules. Medicare for instance insist that a 20 minute appointment must be provided and have harsh penalties for those who choose not to comply.This applies to any Medicare consult, bulk billing or the patient paying and claiming back later.

Having recently been the subject of a random audit by HIC/Medicare (and i thought having my prostrate checked was bad) one item of particular interest to the auditor was the amount to time allowed to see the patient and what proof we could supply of this i.e. a copy of the days patient list.

Cheers Stuart

 

I allow 40 minutes per appointment. this may seem excessive, but I work alone, without support staff, receptionists, or Practice Manager.

The time I allot to each patient allows 30 minutes to treat that patient, and then to write up comprehensive notes, make a further appointment, write a receipt for treatment, and summarise any patient advice given, sometimes in writing. Sterilisation of instruments and general tidying of surgery to present a clean, tidy environment is constant, throughout the day, and, of course, takes time .

I "experimented" briefly with 30-minute appointments, but found I was constantly rushing, and literally hopping from one patient to the next, without pause.. That experiment ended pretty quickly!

Other Pods may perhaps think that the time I take per patient is excessive, but,
"it works for me".

Nick Curry

 

Hi Nick,

Surely it is about what works for you.

30 mins 40 mins or an hour. Private practice is about being in control without the strings being pulled.

Less stress IMO leads to a happier environment for both clinician & patient.

Nothing more stressfull than hearing the next patient <coughing> impatiently while you are already with a patient.

All the best,

 

Twirly,

"Private practice is about being in control without the strings being pulled."

How right you are.

I think at some stage recently I forgot to control my appointments, and allow them to control me.

Many thanks for your words of wisdom. I would be delighted to hear more of your views of private practice, based on your experience.

Kind regards,

Nick Curry

:drinks

 

Hi Nick,

I am flatterd by your previous post though there are a great many other private practitioners on the Arena with far more wisdom than I can provide.

I just try to provide my patients with the same treatment & courtesy that I would like to recieve.

I dislike feeling rushed so I set my stall accordingly to minimise unecessary pressure.

I qualified in 1998 & used to work full time for the NHS while also running a private practice evenings & weekends.
Aren't student loans great! :craig:

I always intended to become an IPP & in Sept. last year I submitted my resignation to my NHS manager.

Mine is only a small practice in a small Yorkshire village but it is building nicely. Through choice I work 5 mornings, 1 evening & alternate weekends. I offer H/V for housebound patients in the afternoon but never book more than four H/V in any afternoon.

The way I choose to work is an essential element in enjoying my life. I would not flourish in a 9-5 routine until I reach retirement & I do not respond well to authority.

I don't need a swimming pool, a BMW or a villa in the Algarve.

I love my family, my garden & my only aspiration is to one day buy a top of the range Mini Cooper<S>. Oh & to be able to enter into a top notch debate with the Arena greats on biomechanics. (Unlikely to happen any time soon).

Happy in my chosen career?

Oh yes.

Destined for greatness?

Unlikely.

Happiness is a state of mind but (again only my opinion) it is self inflicted.

Many regards,

:drinks