Use of an orientation clinic to reduce failed new patient appointments in primary care

S Jain; C L Chou

doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.00201.x

Use of an orientation clinic to reduce failed new patient appointments in primary care

J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Dec;15(12):878-80. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.00201.x.

Authors

S Jain¹, C L Chou

Affiliation

¹ General Internal Medicine Section, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 94121, USA.

Abstract

Patients who fail to attend initial appointments reduce clinic efficiency. To maximize attendance by newly referred outpatients, we introduced a mandatory group orientation clinic for all new patients and determined its effects on no-show rates. Orientation clinic also provided health care screening and opportunities for patient feedback. The new patient no-show rate for initial provider visits decreased significantly from 45% before institution of orientation clinic to 18% afterwards (P<.0001). The total no-show (patients who failed to attend orientation clinic or an initial provider visit) rate of the postintervention group was 51% (P = .28, compared with before the intervention). This intervention improved the efficiency and minimized the wasted time of our clinicians.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Appointments and Schedules*
Female
Hospitals, Veterans
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / organization & administration*
Patient Compliance / psychology
Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data*
Patient Dropouts / statistics & numerical data
Patient Education as Topic / methods*
Primary Health Care / methods
Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
San Francisco