No Show/Late Arrival Policy
We realize that emergencies and other scheduling conflicts arise and are sometimes unavoidable. However, advance notice allows us to fulfill scheduling needs and keeps the clinic operating at is most efficient level, which is especially important for health and safety protocols. Due to our one-on-one treatments, missed appointments are a significant inconvenience to your dentist, the office and other patients.
This policy is in place out of respect for all of us, including you. Cancellations with less than 48 hour notice are difficult to fill. By giving last minute notice or no notice at all, you prevent someone else from being able to schedule into that time slot.
Late Arrival Policy:
Patients are asked to arrive at their appointments before their scheduled appointment time. Once arrived, please call the office from your car to notify the office of your arrival. Thereafter, we will call you when the office can see you for your appointment.
A grace period of 15 minutes will be permitted for unforeseen delays a patient may encounter while traveling to the office for their scheduled appointment. If a patient arrives more than 15 minutes late for their appointment, the patient will be given the option of either being seen that day as a walk-in, if the schedule permits, or rescheduled for a later date. This process will ensure patients that do arrive on time are seen in a timely manner, which is critically important for health and safety purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No Show/Cancellation Policy:
A “No Show” is a patient who fails to appear for a scheduled appointment without providing a 48 hour cancellation notice. Further, a rescheduled appointment that is less than the 48 hour cancellation notice is still considered a cancellation and is treated as such. There is a $75 charge for all No Show visits. This charge cannot be billed to insurance and must be paid on or before the next scheduled appointment.
To assist the patient in keeping appointments, we will initiate a reminder telephone call before the patient’s scheduled appointment. During the reminder call a patient is offered the opportunity to either confirm or reschedule the appointment. All reminder calls are documented in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). Following the reminder call (or appointment confirmation), the patient is responsible for cancelling or rescheduling the appointment no less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.
It is the responsibility of the patient receiving the voicemail to confirm, cancel or reschedule 48 hours before the scheduled appointment. All reminder calls are documented in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). If the patient’s phone is “out of service” or not receiving calls, the patient is still responsible for keeping the scheduled appointment.
NOTE: You will never be charged for a cancellation if it is made more than 48 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time.
The Late Arrival and No Show Cancellation Policy are each strictly enforced. All fees related to such policies are due at the time of absenteeism and will be charged to the patient.