๐Ÿ–‰
Article
Patient retention

Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Tips to Reduce No Shows

November 18, 2016
ยท
3 min read
Last updated on
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Tips to Reduce No Shows
Table of contents

It's estimated that no shows can cost the healthcare industry more than $150 billion a year.

To give you perspective: If a pediatric practice sees 100 patients a day at an average cost of $125, with a 13% no-show rate, the practice would lose $32,500 each month.

The Medical Group Management Association(MGMA) report shows no-show rates range on average from 1% to 28% (with that 13% in our example well within the range). This range varies little from specialty-to-specialty.

Calculate the Cost of No Shows

Take your average number of patients you see a month, multiply by your average no-show rate, and multiply that number by your average cost of an appointment.

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) suggests that practices can try the following tips to reduce no-show volume, and ultimately recover the lost costs.

Limit no shows by charging a percentage of the appointment fee or full appointment fee

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found that just more than one-fourth of all responding practices charge a no show fee. Practices charge between $25 and $75 across all specialties. Find the cost that works for you. You may not make back the full cost lost if a no show occurs, but you may be able to cut the overall impact by charging a no show fee. Adding the fee aspect will encourage patients to be more mindful when scheduling and cancelling appointments.

Contacting patients in advance of their scheduled time

Contacting patients in advance of their scheduled time is crucial to improve the no show rate at your practice. With 50% of calls going to voicemail when staff is trying to reach patients, telephone calls may not be the best route. Secure messaging services has been shown to be a more efficient method of sending appointment reminders - directly to the patientโ€™s cell. According to a report commissioned by SinglePoint, it was found that text message open rates exceed 99%, and even more shocking is that 90% of all text messages are read within 3 minutes of being received on the mobile phone.

Plan ahead for no shows

Plan ahead in consideration of the potential for no shows in your practice. Have your staff schedule appointments within a reasonable time of the patient's call. The longer the lapse in time from the patientโ€™s visit, the greater the chance of a no-show.

Another preparation tactic would be to develop a list of patients who are able to come in for short-notice appointments. When a no-show happens, these patients may be able to fill the empty spot.

Financial incentive (similar to the no show fee) works well in encourage appointment adherence. An alternative to the no show fee could be to allow patients to prepay for their next appointment, giving them an incentive to return.

Customize your strategy

Keep these tips in mind, but remember to customize your strategy that is unique to your practice and patientsโ€™ lifestyles. Work with your office manager and staff to see which areas could be improved upon. Ask your patients with a survey what would work for them to better keep and track their appointments.

Simon Lorenz, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Klara

Coming from a family of doctors, Simon was destined to become a doctor too but became intrigued instead by the business and services side of healthcare. He decided to join one of the leading management consulting companies in Germany, working to improve efficiency and performance in healthcare as well as in other industries. In parallel, he wrote his Ph.D. thesis on performance optimization in hospitals, which was later published as a book. In 2013, he and Simon Bolz founded Klara with the mission to transform communication in healthcare, so every patient can receive great care.

Read our latest articles
How a Two-Way Messaging Platform Can Help Practices

How a Two-Way Messaging Platform Can Help Practices

In this post, we discuss the definition of two-way messaging and its benefits if you're considering a new way to communicate with patients.

January 25, 2024
ยท
4
min
read
Read more
โ†’
Enhancing Patient Loyalty: Effective Strategies to Solve Retention Challenges

Enhancing Patient Loyalty: Effective Strategies to Solve Retention Challenges

Maintaining a steady patient base is important for the success and sustainability of your medical practice. Hereโ€™s a look at important aspects of patient retention, why itโ€™s important, and how you may be able to improve.

December 21, 2023
ยท
7
min
read
Read more
โ†’
The Human Touch: How Personalized Patient Outreach Can Transform the Patient Experience

The Human Touch: How Personalized Patient Outreach Can Transform the Patient Experience

With an effective patient outreach strategy, you may be more likely to keep patients engaged. In this post, we outline key information about automated patient outreach and patient outreach solutions that may help you stay ahead of the competition.

December 4, 2023
ยท
8
min
read
Read more
โ†’
โœ—

Get a live demo with our specialists

Let us understand your practice needs and show you how Klara can help

Free Demo