Missed appointments can be reduced by what?

Missed appointments can be reduced by what?

• A. Overbooking
• B. Calls to confirm appointments
• C. Scheduling only late afternoon
• D. No reminders

Answer: (B)

Confirming appointments with a patient before they arrive actively reduces missed appointments by securing the patient’s intent and ensuring they are aware of the exact date and time. This proactive check helps catch scheduling conflicts or misunderstandings early and gives the opportunity to reschedule if needed, keeping the slot available for someone else and minimizing no-shows. Overbooking tries to compensate for missed visits but can create wait times and dissatisfaction; scheduling only in the late afternoon narrows access and doesn’t address reminders; and having no reminders generally leads to more missed appointments.

Confirming appointments with a patient before they arrive actively reduces missed appointments by securing the patient’s intent and ensuring they are aware of the exact date and time. This proactive check helps catch scheduling conflicts or misunderstandings early and gives the opportunity to reschedule if needed, keeping the slot available for someone else and minimizing no-shows. Overbooking tries to compensate for missed visits but can create wait times and dissatisfaction; scheduling only in the late afternoon narrows access and doesn’t address reminders; and having no reminders generally leads to more missed appointments.