Medical appointment no-shows prevent service

  • Published
  • 509th Medical Group
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The mission of the 509th Medical Group is to provide seamless health support to Team Whiteman, care for the nation's warriors past and present and prepare competent, expeditionary medics to excel - anytime, anywhere.

Our patients have the right to the most timely access and treatment which medical facility resources and medical circumstances allow. By scheduling appointments and then not showing up, overall patient access is compromised.

The approximate cost for a visit to a civilian provider is $120. Based on that price, no-show appointments at the 509th MDG totaled more than $240,000 for fiscal year 2008.

The widespread practice of medical offices charging for no-shows or late cancellations is commonplace in civilian healthcare.

Military members and their dependents may be charged a fee if they do not show up for an appointment with a civilian provider. Although the 509th MDG does not charge a fee for a no-show appointment, the issue is still of great concern.

Not showing up for an appointment not only prevents you from receiving the quality healthcare you need, but it also prevents other patients who need care from getting that appointment.

The 509th MDG understands that circumstances arise occasionally which require patients to change plans. If a patient is unable to make a scheduled appointment, they should call the appointment center as soon as possible to cancel the appointment. 

Doing so in advance allows clerks to book that appointment on a later date and schedule someone else for the cancelled appointment slot.

The 509th MDG has a system in place to remind patients of upcoming appointments. An automated call reminder system calls patients the evenings prior to an appointment.

The system begins calling three days before a scheduled appointment and continues to call until contact has been made. Persons with scheduled appointments who have not been called prior should contact the TRICARE office at 687-2121 to verify the telephone number on file is correct.