No-Show Responsibilties

(Condensed from Medical Economics, June 6, 2008)

Every physician has experienced the situation where a patient fails to show up for a scheduled follow-up visit. Excuses run from "I was feeling better" to "I took the medication as prescribed and didn't think another visit was necessary".

Such no-shows may or may not expose you to significant liability, but the wise physician will take precautions just the same.

If you are monitoring a patient's condition, make it clear why return visits are necessary.

Never assume that the things you know about a patient's illness are obvious to the patient. (You could be held liable for failure to inform patients of the potential severity of their condition.)

Instruct the staff to send out notices or call to make sure patients are reminded about coming in for follow-up appointments.

Insert a statement into the patient's record indicating patient was advised that follow-up visits were necessary due to potential adverse outcome.

The key factor is communication. The patient must be informed why follow-up visits are necessary and the importance of such check-ups to their continuing treatment.