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Comparative Study
. 2000 Dec;15(12):878-80.
doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.00201.x.

Use of an orientation clinic to reduce failed new patient appointments in primary care

S Jain  1 , C L Chou
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Use of an orientation clinic to reduce failed new patient appointments in primary care

S Jain et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Dec.

Abstract

Patients who fail to attend initial appointments reduce clinic efficiency. To maximize attendance by newly referred outpatients, we introduced a mandatory group orientation clinic for all new patients and determined its effects on no-show rates. Orientation clinic also provided health care screening and opportunities for patient feedback. The new patient no-show rate for initial provider visits decreased significantly from 45% before institution of orientation clinic to 18% afterwards (P<.0001). The total no-show (patients who failed to attend orientation clinic or an initial provider visit) rate of the postintervention group was 51% (P = .28, compared with before the intervention). This intervention improved the efficiency and minimized the wasted time of our clinicians.

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Comment in

  • Orientation clinics.
    Nardone DA. Nardone DA. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 May;16(5):349. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.10219-4.x. J Gen Intern Med. 2001. PMID: 11405198 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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