Free tool

How many consultations per day make sense?

Your schedule's capacity is clinical hours divided by slot length, minus breaks and no-shows. This calculator shows in 30 seconds how many theoretical slots you have per day, how many patients actually show up (after no-shows), and what that costs per month, so you can compare it with your specialty's ideal load.

Updated September 2026 Free tool By Veluni Health
Schedule capacity calculator
Fill in 6 fields. The result is instant, no sign-up.

Not sure about the duration? Use 30 min for common specialties and 45-60 min for those that take longer.

How many consultations per day make sense

In the US, a primary care physician typically sees about 20 patients a day (Physicians Foundation, 2018), which fits 15-20 minute slots in a 6 to 8 hour day. AAFP practice surveys run about 20 patients a day, 220 days a year. The theoretical capacity with 30-minute slots over 8 hours is 16, but the real one runs 20-30% lower because of no-shows, admin time and breaks.

Slot length varies by specialty. The most common ranges in the US (2025-26):

SpecialtyTypical duration
Primary care15-20 min
Cardiology20-30 min
Dermatology10-15 min
Ophthalmology15-20 min
Psychiatry45-60 min (first), 15-30 (follow-up)

A first visit is usually longer than a follow-up: in psychiatry the initial session runs 45-60 minutes while follow-ups run 15-30. There is no mandated minimum or maximum consultation time in the US; the schedule is the doctor's to set.

Why a real schedule yields less than the theoretical

Three causes explain the gap. The first is no-shows: in the US they run 15-30% of scheduled visits (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2024). In the 2025 MGMA survey, 60% of physicians reported no-show rates unchanged and 27% reported an increase. The second is admin time: a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine (57 doctors) found 49.2% of observed time goes to the chart and desk tasks, versus 27% of direct patient contact. The third is cascading delays: one complex consultation early in the morning delays every one that follows.

That is why real capacity is 20-30% lower than theoretical: the typical efficiency factor is 0.7 to 0.8. A clinic with 3 doctors, 8 hours and 30-minute slots has 1,056 theoretical consultations per month, but about 792 realistic ones.

How to optimize the schedule

Short slot vs long slot

A short slot sees more patients, but any delay becomes a cascade and quality drops. A long slot sees fewer, but each visit earns more and supports a full history and exam. Specialties with long consultations tolerate lower occupancy, because each filled slot represents more revenue; short-consultation specialties need higher rates to sustain the same result. A typical US primary care office runs about 4,400 visits a year, 20 patients a day over 220 days (AAFP).

Frequently asked questions

How many consultations does a doctor see per day?

In the US, a primary care physician typically sees about 20 patients a day (Physicians Foundation, 2018). The theoretical capacity with 30-minute slots over 8 hours is 16, but the real one runs 20-30% lower because of no-shows, admin time and breaks.

What is the ideal duration of a medical consultation?

15-20 minutes for primary care, 20-30 for cardiology, 10-15 for dermatology, 15-20 for ophthalmology, and 45-60 for an initial psychiatry session (15-30 for follow-ups). There is no mandated minimum or maximum consultation time in the US; the schedule is the doctor's to set.

Why does my schedule yield less than expected?

Three main causes: no-shows (15-30% of scheduled visits in the US, per the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2024), admin time (49.2% of doctor time on the chart), and cascading delays. Real capacity is usually 20-30% lower than theoretical.

Does this calculator use my data?

No. The calculation runs in your browser, nothing is sent to a server and no data is stored.

Sources

  1. Physicians Foundation, "Physician practice survey" (2018), average 20.2 patient visits per day.
  2. AAFP, "Practice operations: patient volume" (2025), about 20 patients a day, 220 days a year.
  3. Annals of Internal Medicine (2024), no-show rate 15-30% of scheduled visits.
  4. MGMA, "2025 physician compensation and practice survey", 60% report no-shows unchanged, 27% increased; cost inflation +11.1%.
  5. Annals of Internal Medicine (57 doctors), 49.2% of time on the chart.
  6. Cochrane (2013, 8 trials, 6,615 participants), reminders: 67.8% to 78.6-80.3% attendance.

Put your clinic online in minutes

The free plan includes your clinic website, 24/7 online booking and the management dashboard. No credit card required.

Create your free clinic site

Free plan · No credit card · Cancel anytime