Analysis of Missed Appointments at a Military Treatment Facility

摘要

Hospital outpatient services are becoming a larger component in the provision of total health care. Increases in outpatient visits have also resulted in high rates of broken or missed appointments. Broken appointments waste the health professional's time and make for inefficient use of medical resources. More importantly, medical noncompliance and interruption of the continuity of the health care process can lead to irreversible changes in a patient's condition. This study examines the problem of missed appointments at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and recommends corrective actions which can likely be applied at other facilities as well. Keywords: Scheduling; Manpower utilization; Hospital administration. (kt)