Medical appointment no-shows hurt you Published Jan. 6, 2009 By Capt. Eric Kerr 325th Medical Group group practice manager Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. -- The 325th Medical Group has seen a dramatic decrease in active-duty members' no-show rates but an increase in the active-duty family members in 2008. Patients who are no-shows or make late cancellations are not meeting their obligations regarding medical care and are clearly not using the medical resource of appointments judiciously. The results of a "no-show" is more than a missed appointment, it compromises other patients' reasonable access to care. The widespread practice of medical offices charging for no-shows or late cancellations is commonplace in the civilian healthcare setting. In fact, military members and their dependents can be charged a fee if they no-show an appointment downtown. Although the 325th MDG does not charge for missed appointment, the issue is still a great concern. Not showing up to an appointment not only prevents you from receiving the quality care you may need, it also prevents other patients who may need an appointment from filling that appointment. The MDG understands circumstances arise that require patients to change their plans. If a patient is unable to make a scheduled appointment, they should call the appointment center as soon as possible to cancel the appointment. Doing so in advance allows the clerks to re-book the appointment at a later date and also allows them to schedule someone else for the cancelled appointment. If a patient is late for an appointment, the provider may or may not be able to see them that day. Although the providers attempt to squeeze these patients in, there is a good possibility that they may have to wait an extended period of time or be rescheduled for another day. Patients should work with the medical providers to ensure they receive the timely care they deserve. To schedule or cancel an appointment, please call 283-2778.