Date of Award
Summer 2026
Document Type
DNP Executive Summary
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Faculty Chair
Dr. Jolie Wildinger, DNP, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC
Preceptor
Dr. Carson Penkava, MD
Abstract
Background: Missed appointments at ambulatory infusion centers (AIC) continue to be a problem, even with improved scheduling systems and care coordination efforts. Nationally, missed appointment rates average 10%–12%, and in Central Alabama, the rate is 11.7%. However, one local AIC has a much higher missed-appointment rate of 17.8%. Missed appointments lead to wasted facility resources, increased healthcare costs, and interruptions in infusion therapies.
Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project used live reminder calls to help lower missed appointments in an AIC. The goal was to improve attendance, reduce missed appointments, and maintain consistent care.
Project Design: Over ten weeks, reminder calls were made 24 hours before scheduled appointments. Outcomes were tracked in the electronic health record, and missed appointment rates at pre- and post-implementation were compared with baseline data.
Results: During the intervention period, 325 appointments were scheduled, and 285 were completed. The missed appointment rate decreased from 17.8% pre-intervention to 12.3% post-intervention.
Conclusion: The results were statistically significant, supporting the effectiveness of live reminder calls in reducing missed appointments. The findings highlight the value of implementing targeted reminder strategies to improve appointment adherence, enhance clinic efficiency, and support continuity of patient care.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Jacqueline G., "Reducing Missed Appointments in an Ambulatory Infusion Center" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 148.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/etds_nursing/148
DNP Poster
DNP Project Slide Presentation-J.Jones.pptx (3946 kB)
Podium Presentation