Process improvement for behavioral health

NIATx project explores reducing no-shows in dental settings

The NIATx Dental Pilot study tested using the NIATx model for organizational change to reduce appointment no-shows in dental care settings.

The NIATx model was applied through a multisite learning collaborative that engaged participating organizations in adopting targeted no-show best practices. The primary outcome measure was no-show data collected at the preintervention phase (5 months), intervention phase (7 months), and postintervention phase (3 months).

Preintervention no-show rates ranged from 14 percent (clinic B) to 38 percent (clinic E). All clinics had lower no-show rates during the postintervention period, with decreases ranging from 1 percent (clinic B) to 13 percent (clinic E). Overall, the no-show rates decreased in the study.

The study demonstrated the feasibility of applying the NIATx model to reduce no-show rates, with some difficulty observed with sustainability across dental practices during the postintervention period.

Read the full article: Test of an organizational change model to reduce no-shows in dental care settings

Okunseri, C., Boss, D., Jacobson, N., Wang, M. V., Szabo, A., Okunseri, E., & Molfenter, T. (2021). Test of an organizational change model to reduce no-shows in dental care settings. Journal of public health dentistry81(4), 261–269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12440