Altering the attendance rate successfully for new patients at an outpatient mental health clinic

Show rates for psychiatric outpatient appointments are low among new patients, which affects all patients as well as providers and programs. This column describes two initiatives implemented to address this issue in a community psychiatry program: inpatient referrals and self-referrals. Inpatient referrals were scheduled for an orientation group within five days postdischarge, with initial evaluations within two working days. Biweekly walk-in screening clinics were established for community self-referrals, during which patients were screened and scheduled for an initial evaluation within three working days. Both initiatives significantly increased patient show rates and reduced unused scheduled physician time. Relatively simple initiatives can result in improvements in initial evaluation attendance, benefiting all involved.