Same-day appointments
accommodate patients’ schedules
for more convenient ways
to access care.
SAME-DAY
APPOINTMENTS
We know it’s frustrating to have to
wait days, even weeks to see your
doctor. It’s inconvenient, so we’ve
found a way to make same-day
access happen! Since September,
we’ve been offering same-day
appointments for primary and
specialty care, and you have
responded enthusiastically. More
than 200,000 patient requests have
been fulfilled, making patients’
experiences at Scott & White more
efficient as we continue to listen to
and respond to your wishes
Here’s how it works: Patients
who contact our call center before
noon on a weekday will see a
provider that day, in most cases. If
you call after noon, and no sameday appointments are available,
we’ll get you in for a scheduled
appointment the next day. We work
hard to get you an appointment
with your own physician if he or
she is available; if not, we’ll find
you another provider. “Making
same-day appointments available
is the right thing to do because
it’s what our patients want,”
says Stephen Sibbitt, MD, chief
medical officer at Scott & White
Temple Region. “We’re so pleased
to offer more timely access to
our physicians and caregivers.”
Dr. Sibbitt says many patients
are grateful and are going out
CALL
BEFORE
NOON
SEE A PROVIDER
THAT DAY
CALL
AFTER
NOON
IF NO SAME-DAY
APPOINTMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE, YOU’LL SEE A
PROVIDER THE FOLLOWING DAY
of their way to acknowledge
their gratitude. “An 83-year-old
woman came in for her afternoon
appointment, then stopped by our
call center and brought a thankyou note and a rose to the operator
who scheduled her visit,” he says.
We are currently fulfilling 86
percent of patient requests, but
Dr. Sibbitt says the team is
reaching for a higher goal. “We
want our success rate to be above
95 percent, because this is about
the patient, always.”
The same-day appointment
service is not available for child
development services or patients
who require mental health care,
interventional procedures, or preoperative and post-operative visits.
Patients who face emergency
situations should go to the nearest
emergency room or call 911.
To schedule same-day appointments, call the
numbers below or contact the local clinics.
BRENHAM: call your local clinic
COLLEGE STATION: 979-691-3300
HILL COUNTRY: call your local clinic
ROUND ROCK: 512-509-0200
TEMPLE/KILLEEN: 254-724-SAME (7263)
WACO: call your local clinic
PEDIATRICS: 254-724-KIDS (5437)
sw.org | April 14 THE CATALYST
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