Cost-effectiveness analysis of phone reminders for outpatient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appointments in Singapore.

INTRODUCTION

Due to long wait times, rising demand and limited resources for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services, phone call reminders were implemented as an intervention to increase scanner utilisation and improve non-attendance at the radiology department in Changi General Hospital, Singapore.

AIM

This study aims to evaluate the impact of phone reminders on outpatient MRI non-attendance rate as well as the operational efficiency and savings of this intervention through cost-effectiveness analysis.

METHODS

MRI outpatient records from January to December 2020 (pre-intervention period) and January to December 2021 (post-intervention period) were retrospectively obtained from the hospital systems. Non-attendance rates, costs and savings following the intervention were compared.

RESULTS

Outpatient appointment non-attendance rates reduced from 12.85% to 8.93% after intervention. Following the phone reminders, 2,953 patients (21.69%) decided to cancel or reschedule their appointments. Based on the 91.07% attendance rate (100% - 8.93%), another 2689 slots were recovered from the cancellation of these appointments and were given to other patients. The reduction in non-attendance rates (3.92%) after the intervention translates to an increase in attendance of 533 patients while the net revenue generation with the phone reminder intervention was $387,179.

CONCLUSION

Cost analysis indicates that phone reminders provide an inexpensive, easily implemented and personalised method to help increase adherence and improve appointment attendance. Reminding patients by phone calls two day before their appointments also leads to better optimization of appointment slots from cancelations and re-scheduling that can be used to allocate these appointments to other patients.