title: Patient- and Visit-Level Variables Associated With Late Arrival to Pediatric Clinic Appointments.
abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate timeliness of patient arrival at a pediatric multispecialty clinic. Bivariate and ordered logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the odds of late arrival by specified patient- and visit-level characteristics. A total of 64 856 visits were available for analysis, of which 6513 (10.0%) were late arrivals. The odds of late arrival were higher for patients who spoke English (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, P < .001) compared with those who spoke Spanish, had Medicaid (OR = 1.54, P < .001) or no insurance (OR = 1.49, P < .001) compared with those with insurance other than Medicaid, and were late to their previous visit (OR = 2.46, P < .001). Visit-level variables associated with late arrival included appointment time earlier in the day (i.e. 8-10 am, OR = 2.77, P < .001 compared with 4-6 pm), earlier in the week (i.e. on Mondays, OR = 1.21, P < .001 compared with Wednesdays), and for certain subspecialty clinics ( P < .001). Numerous variables are significantly associated with late arrival for pediatric clinic appointments.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Shona C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.affiliation: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hassmiller Lich
authors.affiliation: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.affiliation: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013995:Time
keywords: ambulatory care; clinic visit; demographics; late arrivals; outpatient clinic