Title : Can no shows to hospital appointment be avoided
Abstract:
Introduction: Non-attendance is a common source of inefficiency in a health service, wasting time, resources, potentially lengthening waiting lists, increases patient suffering, morbidity and has received little attention. Patient failure to attend hospital outpatient appointments has a significant impact on the ability of hospitals to provide efficient and effective services. Aim: Of study to analysis risk factor of non-attendance in a group of patients who are unlikely to attend again. Method & Material: Prospective study of patients referred to surgical clinics Antrim area Hospital Northern Ireland from April 2017 to August 2017. Survey was a structured on a telephonic interview. Including new referrals from General Practitioners, accident & emergency department, and medical department & review surgical patient’s. Results: Fifty patients contributed to the survey 27 were Female & 23 Male ratio 1.17:1. Age range from 17-89 years, mean age 56. There were total 42 clinics sessions and total numbers of the patients to be seen were 504, only 454 were seen in the outpatient clinics but 50 patients were DNA including 22 new patients, 25 review &3 referrals from other teams. Conclusion: System of telephonic calling by clinic receptionist of all the patients should be made prior to clinic to overcome the issue of DNA. Patient who were given longer appointments than 2-3 weeks should get an additional reminder either by post, electronic mail, mobile (SMS) text messaging where appropriate which may turn up a suitable means of improving patient attendance
