| SHORT COMMUNICATION |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 28
| Issue : 1 | Page : 23 |
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The effect of outpatient web-based online scheduling versus traditional staff scheduling systems on progression to surgery and no-show rates
Amir Kachooei1, Kyle Plusch2, Alexis Kasper2, Taylor D’Amore2, Pedro Beredjiklian2
1 Division of Hand and Wrist Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, AdventHealth, Orlando, FL, USA; Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Division of Hand Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Amir Kachooei
MD PhD, 265 East Rollins Street, 11th Floor, Orlando, FL, 32804
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_738_22
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Background: This study aimed to compare the rate of scheduled surgery and no-show rates between online-scheduled appointments and traditionally scheduled appointments. Materials and Methods: All scheduled outpatient visits at a single large multi-subspecialty orthopedic practice in three U.S. states (PA, NJ, and NY) were collected from February 1, 2022, to February 28, 2022. Visits were categorized as “online-scheduled” or “traditionally scheduled” and then further grouped as “no-show,” “canceled,” or “visited.” Finally, visits were categorized as either “new patient” or “follow-up.” Results: There was no significant difference between scheduling systems for patient progression to any procedure within 3 months of the initial visit (P = 0.97) and patient progression for surgery only within 3 months of the initial visit (P = 0.88). However, we found a significant difference with a higher rate of progression to surgery in traditionally scheduled than online-scheduled visits when accounting for only new patient visits that progressed to surgery within 3 months of the initial encounter (P = 0.036). No-show rates between scheduling systems were not significant (P = 0.79), but no-show rates were significant when comparing the practice's subspecialties (P < 0.001). Finally, no-show rates for online-scheduled compared to traditionally scheduled patients for both new and follow-up appointments were not significantly different (P = 0.28 and P = 0.94, respectively). Conclusion: Orthopedic practices should utilize online-scheduling systems as there was a higher progression to surgery of traditionally scheduled appointments compared to online. Depending on the subspecialty, no-show rates differed. Furthermore, online-scheduling allows for more patient autonomy and less burden on office staff.
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