Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following is a consequence of failing to properly document a patient’s missed appointment?

1. Increased patient satisfaction

2. Potential loss of revenue

3. Improved communication with patients

4. Enhanced patient care

The correct answer is: Potential loss of revenue

Failing to properly document a patient's missed appointment can lead to a potential loss of revenue for the healthcare provider. When a patient misses an appointment without notice, it can disrupt the scheduling of that time slot, often resulting in a lost opportunity to see another patient who could have filled that appointment. In addition, many practices have a no-show policy that may include cancellation fees, which can also contribute to revenue loss if documentation is incomplete or nonexistent. Proper documentation is crucial for tracking missed appointments and managing scheduling effectively, which directly impacts the financial viability of a practice. The other options relate to outcomes that are generally positive and would not logically follow from a missed appointment scenario. Increased patient satisfaction, improved communication, and enhanced patient care are all goals of effective medical practice, but these outcomes would not result from a failure to document missed appointments, which can lead to operational inefficiencies and dissatisfaction instead.