What type of scheduling is described when a provider requests to schedule three patients at the top of each hour to be seen in order of arrival?

The scheduling method described involves scheduling multiple patients at the same time frame—in this case, three patients at the top of each hour—who are then seen in the order they arrive. This approach is known as wave scheduling.

With wave scheduling, multiple patients are scheduled to come in simultaneously, which allows a provider to address patients as they arrive. This method is particularly effective in managing wait times and accommodating varying appointment lengths, as it creates a "wave" of patients who can be seen in an orderly fashion. If one patient has a longer appointment, others can still be seen without significant delays to their wait times, provided the practice is well-staffed and organized.

In contrast, cluster scheduling organizes patients with similar needs into specific time blocks, consistency scheduling aims to create regular appointment times for patients, and open scheduling invites patients to come in as they please without appointments, which can lead to unpredictability. Thus, wave scheduling is the most fitting choice for the situation described in the question.