Everyone does it to some level; we may be too busy, we have too much work or we just do not feel like going in that one day. The decision to skip appointments may seem harmless, but is it?
The Problem with Missing Appointments
You might even think, “Maybe I left a spot open for someone else,” and just move on without further thought.
For places that operate by appointment this behavior can lead to losses including money, time, and quality of care. When a patient doesn’t make it to an appointment, that is a time slot lost, for the clinic that slot represents a double loss as there is no way to recoup the time or the money lost due to new patients having to be placed in other available spots.
If a patient knows the appointment must be cancelled a notification with a minimum of 24 hours ahead of the appointment is preferred. Not only is it common courtesy, the notification gives the clinic an opportunity to fill the spot again so the schedule remains more or less the same.
Why We Charge for Missed Appointments
The main reason we charge for missed appointments is not an attempt to make up for the money lost on a no-show's slot, as you are not being charged the full cost of your missed visit.
We simply want to give you another reason to not miss or postpone your child's medical appointments.
The Real Cost of Your Missed Appointments
Every action or lack thereof may have unintended consequences. In the case of missed pediatric medical appointments the real victim is the child that went without care due to a missed appointment or unfilled time slot.
For our staff here at STCNC numbers do not matter. It is the lack of care being given to your children that matters most!
More About Us
We believe that children are important and deserve the best. Our facility will host a friendly environment, professional staff, quality healthcare and most of all -- a positive experience for the children.
