Managing the flow of patients who get to see the doctor requires an in-depth understanding of the body clock as it regulates biological functioning. Remarkably, the body has a natural circadian rhythm that controls when a person is alert, active, sleepy, or relaxed within a 24-hour cycle. For women, the menstruation cycle may affect their body clock hence the need to observe changes in energy levels during the period. The rationale for considering a doctor’s body clock when making appointments is to align patients at the time when they are at their optimal performance. For example, if the doctor functions optimally during the early morning hours, they can have a high concentration and intrinsic motivation to listen and treat the patient. Moreover, considering the body clock helps in planning so that work that does not require high concentration is aligned with the time of high activity, while other things like lunch breaks are scheduled when the body has low performance.
Scheduling a complex procedure when the doctor is not alert may have dire consequences. The probability of making medical errors such as misdiagnosis and prescription of the wrong treatment regimen is higher when the doctor’s level of alertness is low. The doctor may appear sleepy or tired, making the patient doubt their competencies. For instance, when a physician is not at their peak, they may be forgetful and repeat the same question multiple times, which annoys the patient. The lack of concentration may slow down their performance, so they will only see a few patients. Furthermore, it can negatively affect the doctor’s body because they are working against their natural clock. Notably, the circadian rhythm affects heart rate, blood pressure, and other body functions. If the doctor forces his body to perform high when it is inactive, it may negatively affect their body rhythm.