Abstract: Patient flow is automatically tracked through a medical clinic and data is acquired from the automated patient flow tracking. A file is associated with a patient including a patient identification indicator when the patient enters the facility and placement of the file in a receptacle along with the identification is detected by sensors in a receptacle located of at first service location. Removal of the file from the receptacle when a first service provider commences service is further detected. Placement of the file in a second receptacle is detected upon completion of the service. One receptacle may be a physician receptacle and the other may be a nurse receptacle. A patient visit data record is generated based upon the detected movement of the file including determining treatment time and waiting time based on marking the time of events when the file is removed and replaced in respective receptacles.