Missed Medical Appointments

Missed medical appointments can lead to negative impacts on individuals and the healthcare system. There is considerable evidence that demonstrates missing medical appointments may result in worsening chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure and progression of acute illnesses. As a result, people get sicker. Missing scheduled appointments or delay in scheduling appointments until conditions worsen negatively impacts the healthcare system. Delayed care usually results in the need for more expensive care and missing scheduled appointments creates delays in the healthcare system’s ability to respond to the medical needs of other patients.

So, why do people miss appointments?

Surveys reveal that getting to medical appointments takes more than just getting a ride for many people. Some older adults and people with disabilities find themselves increasingly unable to navigate the trip to medical care without assistance. Medical transportation providers generally don’t provide assistance in gaining access to medical appointments. They only provide rides and those rides are generally, curb-to-curb services. This means that a person must be able to get themselves ready for the appointment and get out to the curb independently because the driver cannot leave other people in transport unattended while (s)he assists the passenger who needs help getting from the house to the vehicle.

Getting to the medical appointment is only half the battle, however. Once at the medical facility, the patient is dropped off at the door and must navigate independently through the maze of floors and hallways to get to the sign-in location for the appointment. This may only be the start of the journey, however. In many healthcare facilities, the patient will also have to travel to other floors and rooms for lab work, testing and waiting rooms. For an individual with a disability or someone who is weak, unsteady walking or using assistive devices, the effort to keep an appointment is greater than they can manage.

There are services available that can assist patients traveling to medical appointments. Medical chaperones or medical companions are available to accompany patients to their appointments and remain with them throughout the visit. The chaperone has only one purpose and that’s to ensure the patient is provided with whatever assistance is needed to get to the medical appointment and return home without having to worry about the challenges that arise from traveling alone. In some instances, a person who doesn’t typically require a wheelchair, may need one to get from the entrance of a large hospital center to the medical appointment location in a different building than the drop off point. Chaperones can assist with the wheelchair use. They can also remain with a patient throughout a long medical appointment and be a source of encouragement and support.

Medical chaperones are available through the Agency On Aging of SC CT at no cost to patients. Trained volunteers who are familiar with healthcare centers in our region can accompany you to and from your appointment and ensure you make it safely to and from your appointments. Don’t be one of the many who miss appointments and suffer negative health outcomes. Call 203 785 8533 and ask for a medical chaperone.