WGU C458 TASK 3 | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Rianna Robinson
D270
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Missed medical appointments remain a common and frustrating issue in healthcare
organizations that serve patients with limited resources. Many of these missed visits are not due to lack
of motivation, but rather to practical barriers such as transportation challenges, competing
responsibilities, or difficulty keeping track of appointments. The purpose of this proposal is to reduce
missed appointments by expanding telehealth services, strengthening appointment reminder practices,
and identifying transportation barriers earlier in the scheduling process. These strategies are designed to
improve patient access to care and also help clinics operate more effectively (Cochran et al., 2022;
Sumarsono et al., 2023).
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM
Missed appointments, often referred to as no-shows, are a frequent occurrence in healthcare
settings that serve patients with financial, transportation, and health-related challenges. Patients may
miss appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation, unaffordability of travel costs, illness on the
day of the visit, or work and caregiving obligations that take priority (Cochran et al., 2022).
From the clinic's perspective, repeated no-shows disrupt daily operations, providers lose
valuable appointment time, schedules become inefficient, and other patients may have difficulty
accessing care due to limited availability. Over time, this creates strain on both staff and patients,
reducing the overall effectiveness of care delivery (Sumarsono et al., 2023).
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM
Missed appointments have real consequences for patients' health, as they result in delayed or
skipped visits. Conditions may go untreated, chronic illnesses may worsen, and preventive care may be
missed. Research has shown that missed appointments are associated with poorer health outcomes and
increased reliance on emergency services (Sumarsono et al., 2023).
Healthcare organizations also face high no-show rates, resulting in lost revenue, ineffective use
of staff time, and difficulty in meeting patient demand. These challenges are especially significant for
organizations that already operate with limited financial and staffing resources (Tarabichi et al., 2023).
Addressing missed appointments is there for essential for improving both patient care and
organizational stability.
PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION
STEP 1: EXPAND TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT OPTIONS
One of the most effective ways to reduce missed appointments is to reduce the need for
patients to travel. Transportation barriers are consistently identified as a major reason why patients
Rianna Robinson
D270
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Missed medical appointments remain a common and frustrating issue in healthcare
organizations that serve patients with limited resources. Many of these missed visits are not due to lack
of motivation, but rather to practical barriers such as transportation challenges, competing
responsibilities, or difficulty keeping track of appointments. The purpose of this proposal is to reduce
missed appointments by expanding telehealth services, strengthening appointment reminder practices,
and identifying transportation barriers earlier in the scheduling process. These strategies are designed to
improve patient access to care and also help clinics operate more effectively (Cochran et al., 2022;
Sumarsono et al., 2023).
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM
Missed appointments, often referred to as no-shows, are a frequent occurrence in healthcare
settings that serve patients with financial, transportation, and health-related challenges. Patients may
miss appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation, unaffordability of travel costs, illness on the
day of the visit, or work and caregiving obligations that take priority (Cochran et al., 2022).
From the clinic's perspective, repeated no-shows disrupt daily operations, providers lose
valuable appointment time, schedules become inefficient, and other patients may have difficulty
accessing care due to limited availability. Over time, this creates strain on both staff and patients,
reducing the overall effectiveness of care delivery (Sumarsono et al., 2023).
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM
Missed appointments have real consequences for patients' health, as they result in delayed or
skipped visits. Conditions may go untreated, chronic illnesses may worsen, and preventive care may be
missed. Research has shown that missed appointments are associated with poorer health outcomes and
increased reliance on emergency services (Sumarsono et al., 2023).
Healthcare organizations also face high no-show rates, resulting in lost revenue, ineffective use
of staff time, and difficulty in meeting patient demand. These challenges are especially significant for
organizations that already operate with limited financial and staffing resources (Tarabichi et al., 2023).
Addressing missed appointments is there for essential for improving both patient care and
organizational stability.
PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION
STEP 1: EXPAND TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT OPTIONS
One of the most effective ways to reduce missed appointments is to reduce the need for
patients to travel. Transportation barriers are consistently identified as a major reason why patients
