title: Effectiveness of computer-generated telephone messages in increasing clinic visits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-generated telephone reminder calls in increasing kept appointment rates in a public health setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public health clinic, Georgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred seventeen clients with scheduled appointments during a 4-week period at immunization, women, infant, and children; well-child; or family-planning programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single computer-generated telephone reminder 1 day before each client's scheduled appointment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates of kept appointments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 277 clients assigned to receive the intervention, 144 (52%) kept their appointments, compared with only 78 (32.5%) of 240 who were not assigned to receive a message (P < .05). Improvement in kept appointment rates associated with receiving the message was highest for the immunization-program (183% increase, P < .05), with increases of 64%, 53%, and 44% for the well-child; women, infant, and children; and family-planning programs, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a simple and effective method to increase kept appointment rates in a variety of public health programs.
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Linkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaney
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003201:Computers; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States