September 06, 2022
Dr. Linda LeBlanc conducted an informal survey with doctors in N.B. and elsewhere which showed they had between 25% and 80% no-show rates at their clinics and practices. The highest rates were from psychiatrists. One Moncton surgeon said that out of 16 to 18 weekly endoscopy appointments, between two and four don't show up despite reminders explaining the importance of calling to cancel. The Horizon Health Network developed an appointment-reminder service to decrease the numbers of no-shows. Its Missed Appointments Awareness Campaign says that of the 346,000 appointments booked across Horizon in 2020, about 14,000 were no-shows, amounting to four percent of appointments across its hospitals and clinics.