When a patient fails to show for their appointment, the event must be?

Documenting the patient's failure to show for their appointment in their chart is essential for several reasons. It ensures that there is a clear record of the patient's attendance history, which can be important for understanding their overall engagement with their healthcare. This documentation can help healthcare providers identify patterns, such as frequent no-shows, which may require addressing underlying issues such as transportation problems, misunderstanding of appointment times, or other barriers to care.

Additionally, proper documentation is a professional responsibility that helps maintain the integrity of the medical record. It allows other healthcare team members to be aware of the patient's attendance status and facilitates continuity of care. This record can also be necessary for administrative purposes, such as insurance claims and managing the clinic's scheduling system. Therefore, documenting such events is not only a best practice but also an important aspect of providing comprehensive patient care.