Lowering Client No Show Rate
Anthony,
I really appreciate your monthly column in ACA’s Counseling Today. Recently, you wrote about how counselors can better address no-show policies with clients.
As a Master’s level intern counselor, I conduct therapy at a private practice office that sees many clients who are on a Medicaid health plan. How can we improve and enforce our no-show policy with clients who cannot afford to pay a fee for missed sessions?
Thanks for your advice!
-John
Hi John,
That’s a good question!
When neither the provider nor the client can afford a cancellation fee, what is there to be done?
To this, I really don’t know the answer. You might need to get creative….I know of a dentist, who, if you miss your first appointment with him, he will never reschedule another appointment with you. I don’t know if this will help you–but this policy has apparently drastically lowered his ongoing no-show rate.
Perhaps your staff can call the clients the day of, or day before the appointment, to make sure they are still planning to attend?
Perhaps you can start clients off with a short session to begin, to make sure they are going to attend, before booking out an entire hour session?
Read more on the topic: The Cancellation Policy your Practice Must Use!
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Anthony Centore
