The interval for a return appointment depends on the individual patient’s needs and on the discretion of the provider. Physicians should consider what is really necessary for the management of the patient, rather than "the usual" return visit interval. When medically appropriate, extending intervals for return appointments adds supply to the system because fewer future appointment slots are filled.

Eliminate automatic return visits at standard intervals (e.g., all patients come back in one month). Instead, base the clinical decision of return interval on each patient's clinical condition. Patients should be given a return appointment when it is needed and at an interval that is clinically meaningful. One way to reduce the variation among providers who see the same types of patients is to share information about return intervals as a means to promote discussion and dialogue, not as a way to impose and standardize arbitrarily.