(Your Organization Name)

CATEGORY: / Administrative
POLICY: / Late Patients /

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APPROVED BY: / REVIEW DATE: / EFFECTIVE DATE:
DESIRED OUTCOME: / Patients are expected to arrive on time for their scheduled appointments. However, we recognize that there may be times when unexpected delays can occur which make preclude that from happening. In addition, while our providers are encouraged to run on time, that doesn’t always happen, either. This policy will establish specific criteria to consider when patients arrive late for their appointments and determine whether or not they will be seen.

POLICY:

  1. Staff will attempt to place reminder phone calls to patients who scheduled their appointments scheduled more than two (2) days prior to the date. (Confirming date, time, and provider).
  1. If a patient arrives less than 10 minutes late for their appointment, they will be reminded of their appointment time, but will still be seen by the provider.
  1. If the patient arrives more than 10 minutes late, they will be reminded of their appointment time, but the provider will make the determination whether they will still be seen. If the provider is running late and the patient would not have been called back by the time of their arrival, it will be treated as if they were less than 10 minutes late, and the patient will be seen.
  1. If a patient has a “valid” reason for running late (i.e. inclement weather, car accident, or other unforeseeable event), more consideration will be given to working the patients into the schedule.
  1. When late patients are seen, they may be “worked into the schedule” where able, rather than causing all subsequent patients to be seen late.
  1. In some cases, the late patient might not see the provider with whom they were originally scheduled. If another provider has an open appointment, they may be transferred to their schedule, instead.

Policy.Adm.Late Patients