Reduce No-shows to Assessments

These promising practices help reduce no-shows for assessment appointments.

Question

How will we rapidly know a change reduces no-shows to assessment?

Answer

The percentage of no-shows for assessment appointments will decrease. Use the No-show Tracking Spreadsheet to track your baseline and rapid-cycle change data.

Promising Practices

Learn what others have done, how they did it, lessons from the field, and how to test each promising practice using rapid PDSA cycles.

Use the following promising practices as inspiration for change in your organization—re-invent them, improve on them and be creative—and let us know what happens so that we can continue to enrich and expand the library of change ideas available to the entire NIATx network.

Promising practices to reduce no-shows to assessment fall into two categories:

Eliminate Barriers

• Establish Walk-in Hours
• Help Eliminate Barriers to Treatment
• Adjust Staff Schedules to Meet Client Demand

Enhance Motivation

• Use the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing during the First Contact
• Remind Clients about Appointments
• Orient Clients
• Include Family and Friends
• Collaborate with Referrers to Motivate Clients
• Follow-up with No-shows
• Use Motivational Incentives
• Keep in Touch with Clients on the Waiting List (Residential)