A recent study in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice finds that a disturbingly low number of patients referred to a specialist actually see that specialist. Only 71% of the patients referred to a specialist were actually scheduled for an appointment, and only 70% of THAT group of patients actually made it to the appointment. Reasons varied: failure of the primary care physician’s office to actually make the appointment, failure of the specialist’s office to receive that consultation request, failure to confirm the visit with the patient and also some problems on the patient’s end, such as the lack of transportation. If you find yourself or a loved on in a similar situation, understand that a home care agency such as Live Free Home Health Care can make sure those specialist appointments are scheduled and remembered, and that transportation is provided. Read more about this issue in our April Live Free Home Health Care newsletter.
