Question

To help reduce client overload at the front desk, appointments should be

(A) Set every 15 minutes
(B) Set every 1/2 hour
(C) Staggered every 5 minutes
(D) None of the above

Answer 1

Appointments should be staggered every 5 minutes to manage the flow of clients evenly and avoid overloading the front desk, which suits the average arrival rates mentioned.

Step-by-step explanation:

To help reduce client overload at the front desk, appointments should ideally be staggered every 5 minutes. This is because, with an average arrival rate of one customer every two minutes, having appointments set at every 15 minutes or every half hour would cause peaks and troughs in client arrivals, leading to periods of both overload and inactivity.

Staggering appointments every 5 minutes helps manage the flow of clients more evenly and efficiently throughout the day. Additionally, if customers arrive on average every seven minutes, as in an urgent care facility, staggering appointments will still help reduce the chance for long waiting times or overcapacity at the front desk.