Last Updated Oct 2012
Do you know how much revenue your practice is losing because of appointment no-shows? On average, 10-15% of all scheduled appointments end up as a no-show. Before you put in any time or effort to minimizing no-shows in your therapy practice, you’ll want to find out why patients are not showing up because no matter what you do, you won’t be able to fix the problem unless you know and understand the reasons why your patients are not showing up for their appointments.
There are many reasons for no-shows and the reasons for your practice are not the same as the reasons for the practice down the street. A universal solution to this problem does not exist. However, if you and your therapist assistants are aware of the warning signs, you’ll be able to proactively prevent them from happening.
Are you ready to get started? This information will arm you with information that you need to tackle this problem and reduce no-shows in your therapy practice once and for all.
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Warning Sign
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Ask Yourself …
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Forgetfulness
Sometimes patients simply forget their appointment
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Do I have a solid physical therapy software or system for scheduling and patient compliance program in place?
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Low Priority
When patients are choosing between going to an appointment and attending a grandson’s soccer game, they’re most likely to skip out on their appointment if they don’t see it as a high priority.
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Am I helping my patients understand the importance of staying compliant with their treatment plan to achieve the results they’re looking for?
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Fear of Pain
Fear that therapy treatment is going to be painful, or if a patient has a phobia about receiving treatment.
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Do I provide patients with a calm and caring environment from the moment they walk through the door?
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Finances
Some patients are in a position where it’s difficult for them to pay their co-pay. While others don’t have insurance or may have lost their coverage while undergoing treatment.
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Should I offer my patients a payment plan option to help them pay for their treatment? Should I invest in a physical therapy scheduling software that efficiently keeps track of authorized appointments?
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Frustration with Progress
Patient starts to feel like they’re not making progress with their treatment and quickly becomes frustrated and gives up.
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Am I keeping patients motivated about their treatment progress and offering words of encouragement?
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Lack of Transportation
In some cases, a patient has lost their ability to drive and rely on caregivers to provide transportation.
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Is there a local transportation service that my front desk team can encourage patients to use when they need a ride to their next appointment?
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Bad Experience
Long wait times or dissatisfaction with a therapist can lead to a frustrated patient who most likely will not show up for their next appointment.
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Is my entire team providing patients with excellent and caring service? Are we scheduling adequately to avoid long wait times?
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Embarrassment
When patients feel embarrassed for not completing their home therapy exercises, or any other reason, they avoid coming in for their next appointment.
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How can I make my practice a more comfortable environment for my patients?
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When you and your entire staff are all on board and on the lookout for these warning signs, you can stop them in their tracks before they become a problem for your practice. After you’ve determined the triggers for no-shows in your therapy practice, and if you realize your scheduling system can use an overhaul, consider the benefits of physical therapy scheduling software to help you reduce no-shows in your practice.
MediServe’s Attigo Therapy is a Web-based physical therapy software solution designed for private practice rehab. From scheduling, free appointment reminders and documentation, to billing and true bi-directional clearinghouse integration, you’ll successfully manage your practice while boosting profits. MediServe’s 20+ years of experience stands above the rest in addressing the needs of private practice rehab.
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