BACKGROUND What is the best way to schedule follow-up appointments? The most popular model requires the patient to negotiate a follow-up appointment time on leaving the office. This process accounts for the majority of follow-up patient scheduling. There are circumstances when this immediate appointment arrangement is not possible, however. The two common processes used to contact patients for ...

Patients becoming ill outside fairly standard office hours are no longer assessed by their doctor or his or her partner. Patients in many parts of the country can choose primary care walk-in clinics if this is geographically or otherwise more convenient for them than their registered practice. Within their own practice, patients may see different practitioners (and sometimes nurses rather than ...

BACKGROUND Recent shifts in reimbursement toward capitation makes appointment availability a significant resource and stimulates us to understand primary care physician (hereafter referred to as "provider") behavior concerning appointment assignment. The results of prior studies suggest significant provider variability in this area. OBJECTIVE To examine the influences on assigning patient rev...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate whether planning a dental appointment is a predictor of actual dental visits over a one-year period when controlling for past attendance, demographic factors, and dental health beliefs. In addition, the planning-attendance association was explored to determine whether dental anxiety and educational status moderated this relationship. METHODS...

BACKGROUND Immunisation against influenza is an effective intervention that reduces serologically confirmed cases by between 60% and 70%. Almost all influenza immunisation in the UK is done within general practice. Current evidence on the effectiveness of patient reminders for all types of immunisation programmes is largely based on North American studies. AIM To determine whether telephone a...

PURPOSE Between 23% and 34% of outpatient appointments are missed annually. Patients who frequently miss medical appointments have poorer health outcomes and are less likely to use preventive health care services. Missed appointments result in unnecessary costs and organizational inefficiencies. Appointment reminders may help reduce missed appointments; particular types may be more effective th...

PROBLEM CONSIDERED Accessibility by telephone to cystic fibrosis (CF) centers for a diagnostic sweat test appointment from a parental perspective—which can be stressful—compared to experience in contacting a general pediatrics practice in the same area. METHODS We called each CF center and affiliate twice, plus a sample of multiphysician general pediatrics practices selected from yellowpages....

BACKGROUND Case studies from the US suggest that Advanced Access appointment systems lead to shorter delays for appointments, reduced workload, and increased continuity of care. AIM To determine whether implementation of Advanced Access in general practice is associated with the above benefits in the UK. DESIGN OF STUDY Controlled before-and-after and simulated-patient study. SETTING Twen...