What is Cluster Booking?
Cluster Booking encourages patients to schedule into time slots near existing appointments, creating tighter clusters and helping practices reduce scattered bookings throughout the day.
The extra work behind a well-run schedule
At Essence of Life, Brooklyn is constantly thinking about how the schedule flows.
Dr. Maureen typically sees four patients at a time, so Brooklyn has always paid close attention to where appointments land and how the day is arranged. Before Cluster Booking, she handled much of that logic herself by watching the schedule, adjusting availability, and thinking through where patients should go.
"I'm always looking at our schedule and trying to figure out how can I make it most time efficient for the doctor and everything."
— Brooklyn EllacottThe office manager upgrade
When Brooklyn saw Cluster Booking roll out in SKED, her reaction was immediate.
"Yes, this is what I've been waiting for!"
— Brooklyn EllacottInstead of constantly deciding how each booking fits into the day, Brooklyn can trust SKED to support the way she already wants the schedule to fill.
Patient self-scheduling that protects schedule flow
Patients at Essence of Life often use SKED to move appointments, book last minute, or find a time that works better for them.
With Cluster Booking, those self-scheduled appointments can land in spots that make sense for the existing flow of the day, giving patients flexibility without creating more rearranging for the front desk.
"Knowing that I have now SKED supporting that way of thinking too, it takes so much brain space off of me."
— Brooklyn EllacottThat trust has even changed how much availability Essence of Life feels comfortable opening in SKED. Brooklyn says they can now show more of what is truly available because they know the schedule will still fill in a way that supports the practice's flow.
More than Cluster Booking
Brooklyn also relies on SKED Forms and texting to make everyday front desk work easier. Form submissions can upload into the EHR, and texting gives patients an easy way to stay in contact with the practice.
Her advice?
For another office manager considering SKED or Cluster Booking, Brooklyn keeps it simple:
"It's not scary, it's super easy. And they have the best help desk ever that is super quick to respond and says things very clearly. I just find it very user friendly and easy to integrate into a practice."
— Brooklyn Ellacott