Administrative & LegalQuestion 90 of 100
A patient does not show up for a scheduled appointment. What is the appropriate action?
a.Delete the appointment so the schedule looks clean
b.Document the missed appointment in the patient's medical record and follow office policy for follow-up contact
c.Charge the patient's insurance for the visit as if it occurred
d.Discharge the patient from the practice immediately without notice
Explanation
Missed appointments are documented in the medical record because a pattern of no-shows can be clinically and legally significant, and the office then follows its policy for contacting the patient. Deleting the entry destroys evidence that the appointment was offered. Billing insurance for a visit that never happened is fraudulent, and abrupt dismissal without proper notice risks a claim of patient abandonment.
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