Objectives:

To correlate the absences of patients of the USF Ramada to the appointments scheduled in 2019 and their associated medical costs.

Study:

Retrospective observational.

Location:

USF Ramada.

Population:

USF Ramada scheduled medical appointments in 2019.

Methods:

The sample was calculated from the number of vacancies for medical appointments scheduled in 2019 at the USF Ramada. A sample of 1,000 consultations was randomly selected. The data were analyzed by descriptive tests, binomial tests to correlate the biosocial variables with the number of absences and the assigned appointment duration, and a bi-varied analysis and variances analysis to establish homogeneity between the groups of patients evaluated per doctor. The medical cost of patients' absences was calculated.

Results:

One hundred and twenty-eight absences (12.8%) were assessed. The average age was 45.09 years (SD=21.6), 57% of whom were female patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two genders for the number of absences (p=0.133) or for the lost appointment duration (p=0.500). The average number of absences for each doctor was 13.2% (SD=3.89). The total loss of appointment time was 2,440 minutes, which on average corresponds to 271.11 minutes (SD=18.87) per doctor and 19.06 minutes (SD=5.67) per appointment. Homogeneity was established between each doctor’s group of patients who were absent for sex (p=0.471), age (p=0.778), and appointment duration (p=0.609). The calculated medical cost of patients’ absences was 770.2 euros.

Conclusions:

It was estimated for 2019 at USF Ramada an avoidable cost between 18,418.82 e 32,169.42 euros for patients' absences from scheduled appointments.

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