Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Effectiveness of computer-generated appointment reminders.

T G Quattlebaum1, P M Darden, J B Sperry

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Pediatrics
|October 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Mailed computer-generated appointment reminders significantly reduced pediatric no-show rates by 48%. This cost-effective strategy proved successful across various patient groups and appointment types in private practice settings.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The challenge of tetradic relationships in medically interpreted pediatric primary care visits: A descriptive study of communication practices.

Patient education and counseling·2016
Same author

Comparison of continuity in a resident versus private practice.

Pediatrics·2001
Same author

Impact of the change to inactivated poliovirus vaccine on the immunization status of young children in the United States: a study from pediatric research in office settings and the National Medical Association.

Pediatrics·2001
Same author

Children's immunizations: the gap between parents and providers.

Health marketing quarterly·2000
Same author

Assessing immunization rates: the importance of denominators.

Pediatrics·2000
Same author

Randomized multicenter trial documenting the efficacy and safety of a lactose-free and a lactose-containing formula for term infants.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association·2000

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare Management
  • Health Informatics
  • Patient Adherence Strategies

Background:

  • Previous appointment reminder studies focused on low socioeconomic groups in specific clinic settings.
  • This research addresses a gap by evaluating reminders in a typical private pediatric practice environment.
  • Understanding factors influencing appointment adherence is crucial for efficient healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of mailed, computer-generated appointment reminders in reducing no-show rates.
  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this reminder system in a general pediatric practice.
  • To determine if reminder effectiveness varies by socioeconomic status or appointment type.

Main Methods:

  • A 6-month randomized controlled trial involving 901 pediatric appointments scheduled more than 7 days in advance.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Appointments were assigned to either a reminder postcard group or a control group.
  • No-show rates were compared between the two groups.

    • Main Results:

    • The overall no-show rate decreased from 19% in the control group to 10% in the reminder group (48% reduction).
    • Reductions in no-shows were significant regardless of how far in advance appointments were scheduled.
    • The mailed postcards cost $0.20 each and demonstrated a high return on investment, estimated at $7.50 per $1 spent.

    Conclusions:

    • Mailed, computer-generated appointment reminders are a highly effective and cost-effective method for reducing pediatric no-show rates.
    • This intervention is likely beneficial for other practices with no-show rates exceeding 2-4%.
    • The strategy shows promise for improving clinic efficiency and patient access in diverse pediatric settings.