Missed Appointments, Missed Opportunities: Tackling The Patient No-Show Problem

I was asked last week at a healthcare industry roundtable about the single-biggest problem I’m trying to solve in my organization. My answer was surprisingly mundane, but relatable to anyone who has worked in a medical office: helping to address the ever-patient vexing problem of predicting and addressing patient no-shows.

Much has been made about the economic effects of patient “no-shows” on the health care system. One study found that no-shows cost the U.S. health care system more than $150 billion a year and individual physicians an average of $200 per unused time slot. After all, whether or not patients show up, healthcare organizations and medical practices still have to pay their staffs and cover expenses like rent and the cost of equipment.

But above and beyond the economic implications, no-shows have a direct impact on individuals’ health. When patients miss appointments, continuity of care is interrupted. Medication efficacy can’t be monitored regularly. Preventive services and screenings can’t be delivered in a timely manner. Acute illnesses are more likely to go untreated and become chronic conditions with complications. In short, missing an appointment can be severely detrimental to one’s health.

The full Forbes article can be viewed at this link.