A M Hogan1, O McCormack, O Traynor, D C Winter. 1. Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research and Education (iCORE), St Vincents University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. aislinghogan@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-attendance at outpatient clinic leads to significant time wasting and inefficient use of resources. AIMS: To establish the magnitude of the problem of clinic non-attendance and to ascertain the potential impact of a simple strategy to reduce inefficiency in Irish healthcare. METHODS: The number of patients due to attend general surgical clinic in a single year was ascertained. Telephone questionnaire of 97 patients who failed to attend was performed. A survey of potential impact of text message reminder was conducted. RESULTS: Appointments were sent to 18,362 patients. Of these, 31% (n = 5692) were new to clinic. The rate of non-attendance was 16.8% (n = 3085). Varied reasons were given for non-attendance. Text message reminder would encourage 51% of those surveyed to attend or cancel in advance. CONCLUSION: The rate of non-attendance is 17%. A reminder would eradicate more than half of non-attendance, allowing significantly more new patients to be seen, translating to more efficient use of clinic time.
BACKGROUND: Non-attendance at outpatient clinic leads to significant time wasting and inefficient use of resources. AIMS: To establish the magnitude of the problem of clinic non-attendance and to ascertain the potential impact of a simple strategy to reduce inefficiency in Irish healthcare. METHODS: The number of patients due to attend general surgical clinic in a single year was ascertained. Telephone questionnaire of 97 patients who failed to attend was performed. A survey of potential impact of text message reminder was conducted. RESULTS: Appointments were sent to 18,362 patients. Of these, 31% (n = 5692) were new to clinic. The rate of non-attendance was 16.8% (n = 3085). Varied reasons were given for non-attendance. Text message reminder would encourage 51% of those surveyed to attend or cancel in advance. CONCLUSION: The rate of non-attendance is 17%. A reminder would eradicate more than half of non-attendance, allowing significantly more new patients to be seen, translating to more efficient use of clinic time.
Authors: Xiruo Ding; Ziad F Gellad; Chad Mather; Pamela Barth; Eric G Poon; Mark Newman; Benjamin A Goldstein Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 4.497