title: Improving the No-Show Rate of New Patients in Outpatient Psychiatric Practice: An Advance Practice Nurse-Initiated Telephone Engagement Protocol Quality Improvement Project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to improve the uptake of psychiatric services for new patients being referred from primary care, counseling, and hospital discharge follow-up care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 18 new patients participated in a provider-initiated telephone protocol to increase knowledge related to psychiatric treatment and remind patients of appointments the day before the initial visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients attended the initial visit, resulting in a 26% reduction rate of no-show rates from 27% the previous year to 20% in a 3-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Introduction and reminder calls by psychiatric providers improve no-show rates.
authors.affiliation: Idabel, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Clouse
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Idabel, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Harmon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013689:Telephone
keywords: Adult psychiatric-mental health; engagement; no-show