How do I reduce no-shows at my clinic?
Last updated: 2026-05-26
The reminder pattern that consistently drops no-shows: (1) booking confirmation immediately on save, (2) day-before nudge in the evening, (3) morning-of nudge two hours before. Set it once as your clinic default in Settings → Reminders. Override per appointment only when you need to.
The three-touch pattern
| Touch | When | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Booking confirmation | Immediately on save (SMS + WhatsApp) | Confirms the slot and gives the patient a chance to reschedule clean if they realise the time is wrong. |
| Day-before nudge | Evening before the appointment | Gives the patient time to reschedule cleanly rather than no-show. |
| Morning-of nudge | Two hours before the slot | Catches the "I forgot" cases — the most common no-show reason. |
Set it as clinic default
- Open Settings → Reminders.
- Configure the three reminder rows with intervals + channels.
- Save.
From now on every new appointment inherits this pattern. Override on a per-appointment basis using the Custom Reminders section when needed.
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