Effectiveness of telephone reminders in improving rate of appointments kept at an outpatient clinic: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Clinic appointments in which patients do not appear (no-show) result in loss of provider time and revenue. Previous studies have shown variable effectiveness in telephone and mailed reminders to patients.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized controlled trial of telephone reminders 1 day before the scheduled appointments in an urban family practice residency clinic. Patients with appointments were randomized to be telephoned 1 day before the scheduled visit; 479 patients were telephoned and 424 patients were not telephoned.


RESULTS
The proportions of patients not showing up for their appointments were 19% in the telephoned and 26% in the not-telephoned groups (P = .0065). Significantly more cancelations were made when telephoning patients before their visit, 17% compared with 9.9%. The opened scheduling slots were used for appointments for other patients. This additional revenue offset the cost of telephone intervention in our cost analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Reminding patients by telephone calls 1 day before their appointments yields increased cancelations that can be used to schedule other patients. Telephone reminders provide substantial net revenue, but the results may be population specific.
Hashim
M J
MJ
Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
Franks
P
P
Fiscella
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000191:economics*; D013689:Telephone / Q000191:economics*