Modified wave scheduling is best described as:

• A. Booking ahead two weeks
• B. Two patients at the same time
• C. Allocating two at a specified time and third 30 minutes later
• D. Patients are seen in arrival order

Answer: (C)

Modified wave scheduling tests how to keep a busy clinic flowing by creating small, deliberate waves within the hour. The idea is to have two patients start at the same time, then place the third patient about 30 minutes later within that same hour. This pairing fills the early part of the hour efficiently while the later slot buffers the schedule so things don’t fall behind if the first two run a bit long. It helps minimize patient wait times and keeps the provider's time used more evenly, avoiding a single, crowded burst or long idle gaps. It’s a practical middle ground between all-at-once clustering and strict arrival-order timing.