Final answer:
Open-access scheduling aims for short-term flexibility within each hour, providing patients with immediate care and accommodating unpredictable schedules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Open-access scheduling aims for short-term flexibility within each hour. It allows patients to walk in or call for an appointment without a specific time slot. Instead, they are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, providing flexibility for patients who need immediate care or have unpredictable schedules.
For example, a walk-in clinic may use open-access scheduling to accommodate patients who have urgent medical needs and cannot wait for a scheduled appointment.
Other types of scheduling mentioned in the question are not designed for short-term flexibility but have their unique purposes and characteristics.