title: The estimated cost of "no-shows" in an academic pediatric neurology clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Missed appointments ("no-shows") represent an important source of lost revenue for academic medical centers. The goal of this study was to examine the costs of "no-shows" at an academic pediatric neurology outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who missed appointments at an academic pediatric neurology outpatient clinic during 1 academic year. Revenue lost was estimated based on average reimbursement for different insurance types and visit types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The yearly "no-show" rate was 26%. Yearly revenue lost from missed appointments was $257,724.57, and monthly losses ranged from $15,652.33 in October 2013 to $27,042.44 in January 2014.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The yearly revenue lost from missed appointments at the academic pediatric neurology clinic represents funds that could have been used to improve patient access and care. Further work is needed to develop strategies to decrease the no-show rate to decrease lost revenue and improve patient care and access.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Lindsay M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Guzek
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Shelley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address: mgolomb@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: Meredith R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Golomb
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009462:Neurology / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics*; D012372:ROC Curve
keywords: academic medical center; cost; finance; health care; missed appointment; no-show