Broken Appointments at a Neighborhood Health Center

Broken appointments have been a major problem at the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center since it opened in 1968. In an earlier 6-month study of broken appointments at the center the authors found 48% of pediatric appointments and 43% of medicine appointments to be broken. Daily broken appointment rates were correlated between the two departments and were associated with day and time scheduled and with certain weather conditions. Specifically, highest broken appointment rates were noted for Mondays, for afternoon and evening hours, and for days with precipitation.