Health PEI aims to curb no-shows with pilot program

Health PEI will berolling out apilot program Dec. 3 in an effort to curb the high rate of patients not showing up for their diagnostic imaging appointments.

Despite reminder letters mailed tohomes as well asemailsandphone calls made to patients, research by front-line staffers found approximately 150 people failed to show up for appointments each month.

"So we are hoping that we can do much better than that," said GailyneMacPherson, provincial director of diagnostic imaging for Health PEI.

According to staff, it is difficult to say if the no-showsimpactwait timesbut somepatients who are waiting for appointments could fill aspot on short notice.

Health PEI says missed appointments slowdown the process of getting diagnostic images to physicians so they are able to treat patients as fast as possible.

People are not checking their mail like they used to. That was the process that worked when the service was initiated 15 years ago it probablyisn't the best way now.GailyneMacPherson, Health PEI

Connecting electronically

The program will use texts orphone calls to confirm appointments with patients.

Patients will be given the option ofaccepting or declining the appointment, rescheduling, or speaking with a staff member.

The program will send reminders to patients 30 days prior, seven days prior, and once more the day before the appointment takes place.

The final reminderwill notify patients, "You should leave now."

Changing with the times

Health PEI learned from patient feedback thatpatients wereunaware of their appointments.

MacPhersonsays using letters to remind people about their appointments wasn't working.

"People are not checking their mail like they used to. That was the process that worked when the service was initiated 15 years ago it probablyisn't the best way now," she said.

Health PEI carried out a media campaign to address the problem of no-shows ayear ago but it didn't have theimpact staff hoped for.

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