Relationship of scheduling interval to missed and cancelled clinic appointments. J Ambul Care Manage 2008;31(4):290-302
Date
09/23/2008Pubmed ID
18806590DOI
10.1097/01.JAC.0000336549.60298.1dScopus ID
2-s2.0-56149113138 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 21 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: The interval between when a clinical appointment is created and when it occurs may affect the rate of missed and cancelled appointments, affecting access and loss to follow-up, key component of quality.
METHODS: We examined this relationship in various clinic types across Veterans Health Administration clinics nationwide.
RESULTS: As the interval increased, the missed appointment rate increased from 12.0% at day 1 to 20.3% at day 13, then remained constant. Cancellation rates increased steadily from 19% during month 1 to 50% by month 12.
CONCLUSIONS: Scheduling interval has a modest effect on missed appointment rates but a large effect on cancellation rates.
Author List
Whittle J, Schectman G, Lu N, Baar B, Mayo-Smith MFAuthor
Jeffrey Whittle MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Ambulatory CareAmbulatory Care Information Systems
Appointments and Schedules
Health Services Research
Humans
Medicine
Office Visits
Patient Compliance
Quality Indicators, Health Care
Reminder Systems
Specialization
Specialties, Surgical
Time
United States
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
