Stop Blaming the Weatherman! A Retrospective Study of Endoscopy Show Rates at a Midwest Urban Safety-Net Hospital

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Clinical Operations

Background:

• No-show rates (NSRs) for outpatient gastrointestinal procedures vary widely (4%-41%), impacting endoscopy resource utilization.
• While weather is often blamed, specific factors influencing NSRs require identification for optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of day of the year and weather conditions on NSRs for outpatient endoscopic procedures.
• To identify specific scheduling factors that can improve resource utilization in a safety-net hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A 12-month retrospective cohort study analyzed NSR data from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017.
• Local weather data was correlated with NSRs using statistical analyses, including ANOVA, t-tests, and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• The overall NSR was 11.8%, with variations by procedure type (EGDs 9.9%, colonoscopies 12.3%).
• NSRs were highest in April (15.3%) and lowest in September (9.0%).
• Increased NSRs were observed for colonoscopies during freezing temperatures and snowfall, and for EGDs on federal holidays and days following holidays.

Conclusions:

• Adjusting endoscopy schedules on federal holidays and during freezing temperatures or snowfall may enhance department resource utilization.
• Considering these variables is crucial for optimizing scheduling and resource allocation in safety-net hospitals.