Use of Health Care Resources and Costs After Patient Nonattendance in Dermatology

Abstract

Patient nonattendance occurs when patients miss appointments without notifying their health care professionals in advance. In dermatology, nonattendance rates range from 7.8% to 31.0% of scheduled appointments. The consequences of nonattendance range from compromised care to wasted appointment slots, decreased efficiency, and diluted residency training. We seek to define the effect of nonattendance on subsequent use of health care resources and health care spending in dermatology.