What does the term “double booking” mean?

The term "double booking" refers to the practice of scheduling two patients at the same time for an appointment. This typically occurs when a healthcare provider allocates the same time slot for more than one patient, which can lead to complications, such as delays and reduced quality of care. In a medical office setting, double booking may be used strategically to accommodate higher patient demand for certain time slots but requires effective management to ensure that all patients receive adequate attention and care.

Scheduling two patients for the same procedure, in the same week, or canceling one patient’s appointment for another does not accurately reflect the definition of double booking. While these options involve scheduling and patient management, they do not capture the essence of overlapping appointment times, which is central to the concept of double booking.