50+ Latest Patient No-Show Statistics You Need to Know

Patient No-Show Statistics Key Takeaways:

• The total financial loss attributed to patient no-shows in the U.S. healthcare system is estimated at $150 billion per year.

• The rate of patient no-shows in the U.S. healthcare system varies widely, falling between 5.5% and 50%, while the global average sits at 23.5%.

• A survey conducted in July 2022 revealed that 52% of consumers had missed a scheduled healthcare appointment in the past year.

• Patients who fail to show up for a single appointment with their primary care physician are 70% more likely to not return within 18 months.

• Healthcare organizations that actively implement strategies to combat no-shows can achieve a reduction of up to 70%.

Patient No-Show Rates and Trends

The rate of patient no-shows in the U.S. healthcare system varies widely, falling between 5.5% and 50%, while the global average sits at 23.5%.

No-show rates among patients can fluctuate anywhere from 5% to 30% or even higher.

In outpatient care, the likelihood of a patient missing an appointment typically ranges between 23% and 33%.

Certain high-risk areas see extreme no-show rates, reaching as much as 80%.

The average no-show rates by specialty are as follows: Neurology (26%), OB/GYN (18%), Ophthalmology (22%), Pediatrics (30%), Optometry (25%), Dermatology (30%), Endocrinology (14%), Dentistry (15%), Sleep Clinics (39%), Primary Care (19%), and Oncology (25%).

A survey conducted in July 2022 revealed that 52% of consumers had missed a scheduled healthcare appointment in the past year.

On average, medical groups see 80 returning patients and 43 new patients failing to show up for their appointments each month.

More than 50% of medical groups have reported an increase in their patient no-show rates over the last few years.

In 2023, 52% of medical groups stated that their no-show rates remained unchanged compared to 2022.

A rise in patient no-shows was reported by 37% of medical groups in 2023.

Only 11% of medical groups observed a decline in their patient no-show rates in 2023.

A similar survey from 2022 indicated that 49% of medical groups had seen an uptick in no-show rates compared to the same time frame in the prior year.

Financial Impact of Missed Appointments

The total financial loss attributed to patient no-shows in the U.S. healthcare system is estimated at $150 billion per year.

Each missed appointment carries an average cost of $200 or more.

A study conducted in 2020 revealed that 67,000 patient no-shows resulted in a staggering $7 million loss to the healthcare system.

Revenue loss due to patient no-shows can accumulate to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per month, particularly when missed appointments are not rescheduled.

Independent physician practices face an estimated annual loss of $150,000 due to patient no-shows.

Among surveyed respondents, 47% reported that patient cancellations cost their practice up to $2,500 in lost revenue each month, while some practices report losses reaching as high as $7,500 per month.

On average, no-show patients contribute to a 14% loss in daily revenue for medical groups.

For a physician working an eight-hour shift with 20-minute appointment slots, every three unfilled cancellations lead to a 12.5% drop in productivity.

Reasons for Patient No-Shows

Approximately 33% of patients in the study admitted that they missed their appointment simply because they forgot.

A lack of effective provider communication was responsible for 31.5% of patient no-shows.

Impact of Scheduling, Lead Times, and Specialty Variations

A study analyzing 4.2 million appointments scheduled in 2016 across 13,000 providers found that reducing appointment lead times significantly boosts new patient attendance.

New patients who wait over one month for their initial appointment are more than twice as likely to cancel and not reschedule compared to those who secure an appointment within one week.

76% of patients reported they would feel comfortable seeing a different provider within the same practice if it meant shorter wait times and better appointment availability.

Strategies and Technology to Reduce No-Shows

Healthcare organizations that actively implement strategies to combat no-shows can achieve a reduction of up to 70%.

Research indicates that patient no-show rates drop by 29% when a self-scheduling tool is utilized.

A significant 71% of patients believe that offering more same-day or next-day appointments would help prevent no-shows, cancellations, and rescheduling.

The ability to reschedule appointments online would encourage 75% of patients to attend their scheduled visits.

If an in-person visit is unavailable, 56% of patients are open to participating in a telehealth session instead.

A notable 74% of patients stated they would use a virtual waiting room if that option were available.

Many medical practices have seen improved patient attendance by implementing automated reminders via text, email, or phone at intervals such as five days, three days, and one day before the scheduled appointment.

Currently, 54% of healthcare providers report having measures in place to address no-shows, with 79% of them leveraging digital appointment reminders.

Among patients, 40% believe that receiving additional appointment reminders would help reduce no-shows.

When it comes to appointment reminders, 67.3% of patients prefer to receive them via text message.

A vast 86% of Americans only answer phone calls if they recognize the caller, which could reduce the effectiveness of phone-based reminders.

The implementation of a pre-appointment intake (PAI) process, which involves calling patients one to three business days before their appointment, has been linked to improved patient rooming times and a higher rate of medication reconciliation completion.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on No-Show Fees and Policies

Many medical groups now implement a no-show policy for new patients, requiring them to agree to fees—typically $25 for an office visit and $100 for a surgical appointment.

Some practices have recently introduced no-show fees specifically for non-Medicaid patients within the past year.

A survey found that 52% of patients feel that being charged a no-show or cancellation fee is unfair.

Approximately 68% of patients admitted they have never attended an appointment they intended to cancel due to fear of being charged a no-show fee.

Effects of No-Shows on Healthcare Operations

A 2019 study revealed that patients who miss just one appointment have an attrition rate of nearly 70%, compared to only 19% for those who consistently attend their scheduled visits.

Patients who fail to show up for a single appointment with their primary care physician are 70% more likely to not return within 18 months.

For individuals managing chronic diseases, the likelihood of leaving their provider doubles after missing just one appointment.

Among healthcare providers, 31% reported that a primary reason for patient attrition is the lack of timely appointment availability.

A significant 68% of providers stated that they must cancel or reschedule patient appointments anywhere from 1 to 10 times per month.

Approximately 1 in 3 patients indicated that if their provider were late to an appointment, they would consider switching to a different healthcare provider.

SOURCES:

PMC - To charge or not to charge: reducing patient no-show

PMC - Evaluating the Impact of Patient No-Shows on Service Quality