CHAIR OF NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE PUBLISHES STUDY ON OUTPATIENT CLINIC AND IMPACT ON PATIENT ATTENDANCE

Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP                                                      George J. Tsunis, Esq.,

President/CEO                                                                                Chairman Board of Directors             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 7, 2018

PRESS CONTACT:

Irene Voss

ikoundou@numc.edu

516-572-6055

CHAIR OF NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE PUBLISHES STUDY ON OUTPATIENT CLINIC AND IMPACT ON PATIENT ATTENDANCE

STUDY PUBLISHED IN JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION EXAMINES THE IMPACT OF MISSED APPOINTMENTS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT

East Meadow, NY….Nassau University Medical Center Chairman of Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Peter Guiney, recently participated in and published a study on the impact of missed appointments on treatment effectiveness. No-show rates are considerable, between 21-33%, which results in decreased effectiveness of treatment, lost time, and higher use of resources, according to the study released earlier this month.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, takes a multifaceted approach to a problem which is as simple as being called into work, cancelling the appointment due to conflict, or forgetting. The trend can be counteracted, Guiney concluded, with intervention to “address every roadblock within our control.”

In a statement released by Dr. Victor Politi, CEO and President of the Nassau University Medical Center, Dr. Guiney was applauded for his diligent work on improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the field at large:

“As we all know, medical care is something that faces significant roadblocks, sometimes keeping those in need of care out of our facilities. This study, which takes aim at the variables that keep patients from returning for sustained treatment, will be utilized by many throughout the American Osteopathic Association to create efficiency in the medical center, which enables greater effectiveness of treatment. The number one goal we, as doctors, have when treating a patient, is to return people to health and wellness and keep them there,” said Dr. Victor Politi, CEO and President of Nassau University Medical Center.

“”The primary reasons patients missed appointments were simply forgetting the appointment, being called in to work, or not being able reach someone at the center or leave a voicemail to cancel. We designed an intervention to address every road block that was within our control. I was pleased to design a method which made medical treatment more accessible and efficient, hopefully improving treatment outcomes,” said Dr. Guiney, DO, Chairman, Department of Family Medicine at Nassau University Medical Center

ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life.  Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community.  By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.

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