What does real-time scheduling in Epic allow users to do?

Real-time scheduling in Epic fundamentally enhances the user experience by enabling instant bookings without delays. This feature allows users to access the most current availability of providers and resources, making it possible to secure an appointment immediately as opposed to enduring a wait time due to outdated information. The essence of real-time scheduling lies in its ability to provide immediate feedback on availability, allowing users to make decisions and finalize bookings efficiently.

The context of real-time scheduling rests on the integration with live data, which is crucial for ensuring that patients are booked in slots that are genuinely available. This streamlines the entire scheduling process, eliminating the frustrations associated with back-and-forth communications or delays in securing an appointment.

While seeing availability for future appointments, viewing a patient’s complete history, and assigning new patients to providers are important aspects of the scheduling process, they do not capture the essence of 'real-time' capabilities, which focuses specifically on the immediacy and efficiency of making instant bookings.