Strategies Used by Exemplary Practices to Reduce No-Shows Rates (n = 11)
| Method | Practices Using Method No. (%) |
|---|---|
| *Open access defined as no appointments made beyond 1 week ahead; complete open access defined as no advance appointments; partial open access defined as some advance appointments. | |
| Patient education | 10 (91) |
| On enrollment in practice | 7 (64) |
| When each appointment is made | 6 (55) |
| When reminded of appointment | 4 (36) |
| After each no-show | 7 (64) |
| After repeated no-shows | 5 (45) |
| No. of education strategies, median (range) | 3 (0–5) |
| Patient reminders | 9 (82) |
| Telephone call to all patients | 9 (82) |
| Telephone call to high-risk patients | 2 (18) |
| Letter/card to all patients | 1 (9) |
| Letter/card to high-risk patients | 1 (9) |
| No. of reminder strategies, median (range) | 1 (0–3) |
| Patient sanctions | 9 (82) |
| Expelled from practice | 9 (82) |
| Required to walk-in (no appointments) | 1 (9) |
| Open access* | 9 (82) |
| Complete | 3 (27) |
| Partial (lots of work-in slots) | 6 (55) |
| Continuity emphasis | |
| Residents work in small teams | 7 (64) |
| Scheduling rules | |
| Residents cannot schedule appointments | 6 (55) |
| Work with individual residents | |
| Try to determine cause for no-shows | 2(25) |