PATIENT APPOINTMENT FAILURES IN PEDIATRIC RESIDENT CONTINUITY CLINICS

Objectives: To determine appointment failure rates in pediatric reside nt continuity clinics nationally, and to identify characteristics of c linics with respect to factors that may affect appointment failure rat es. Design: A one-page questionnaire administered via facsimile machin e to pediatric residencies' continuity clinic directors. Results: Of 2 00 continuity clinic directors, 160 (80%) returned the survey. The mea n no-show percentage was 30.9%, with a range of 3% to 80%. Among the f actors studied, only mode of payment emerged as an independent predict or. Conclusions: Appointment failure is a substantial problem in pedia tric resident continuity clinics, which needs attention if resident le arning, patient care, and clinic efficiency are to be optimized.