Evaluation and Potential Improvement of Patient Attendance at a Multidisciplinary Clinic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric care
• Healthcare management

Background:

• Multidisciplinary care is optimal for children with cleft palate and craniofacial conditions.
• Clinic no-shows and same-day cancellations disrupt coordinated patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate factors contributing to patient non-attendance in specialized pediatric clinics.
• To develop and implement innovative interventions to increase patient attendance and clinic utilization.

Main Methods:

• Assessed factors associated with clinic non-attendance.
• Initiated discussions with hospital systems and electronic medical record providers.
• Designed interventions focused on improving patient attendance.

Main Results:

• Standard appointment reminders were insufficient in reducing no-shows.
• A predictive risk model for patient non-attendance is being developed.
• Stakeholder engagement is key to designing effective interventions.

Conclusions:

• Predictive modeling offers a novel strategy to mitigate clinic non-attendance.
• Proactive interventions can enhance patient access to essential craniofacial care.
• Improving clinic utilization is crucial for optimizing multidisciplinary care delivery.