The impact of personalized reminders in addition to an automated patient reminder system on pediatric dermatology no‐show rates: A pilot study

• Published in: Pediatric dermatology Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 741 - 742
• Main Authors: Snodgrass, Alexandra, Schoch, Jennifer J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Appointments and Schedules; Automation; Clinics; Dermatology; Electronic health records; Humans; missed appointments; No-Show Patients; no‐show; Patient compliance; pediatric dermatology; Pediatrics; Pilot Projects; Reminder Systems; schedules; Statistical analysis; Telephone; Telephones; missed appointments; pediatric dermatology; no-show; schedules
• ISSN: 0736-8046; 1525-1470
• DOI: 10.1111/pde.13900

We investigated the impact of a personalized telephone call reminder for patients that had not confirmed their clinic appointment, in addition to automated reminders, on monthly no‐show rates. Our data revealed a reduction in the monthly no‐show rate from 16.0% (SD = 3.91%) before the intervention to 13.1% (SD = 0.27%, P = 0.0997) after the intervention, which was not statistically significant. The standard deviation of the no‐show rate with the intervention was reduced, leading to a predictable monthly no‐show rate (range 12.93%‐13.51%). Thus, the number of patients attending clinic was more predictable. This study highlights the need for additional investigation of factors associated with appointment nonadherence in pediatric dermatology.