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Re: "No shows"

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 wrote:

> If they continue to not show, have any of you discharged patients from your
> practice solely for that reason? I hate to take up valuable office time slots
> for patients who may not come.

After a patient DNKA's 3 confirmed appointments, I send them a personal
letter expressing to them that I will be happy to transfer their medical
records to another physician ...hint..hint...hint.  When I was in the
military, the hospital commander would send them a letter with the
"threat" to take away their clinic privileges - essentially banning them
from the hospital clinic.  That always got their attention real fast!
I also warn them that future DNKA's will result in them being charged
for missed office visits in the future.
This letter usually gets a response from them - sometimes they have
already changed docs, their insurance has changed or they are waiting
for their new insurance to take effect, etc......
Anyhow, I try to be very understanding and forgiving about DNKA's but
when it deprives other children from being seen, I get more upset about
it.  I am really trying hard not to start charging patients for missed
appointments because I know that would make them mad but heck, it is
starting to make me "angry" when I am sitting around because patients
missed their scheduled & confirmed appointment (esp. the HMV's).  I
guess I could start "double-booking" but I don't like to practice that
way.
Andrew