Missed appointments hurt mission readiness Published Jan. 8, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 2nd Medical Group is asking the people of Barksdale for their help to prevent missed appointments. "Our goal at the 2nd MDG is to attend to the healthcare needs of Barksdale's Airmen and their families by providing the best possible medical care," said 2nd Lt. Willie Jones, a 2nd MDG group practice manager. "When people make last-minute cancellations or simply don't show up for a scheduled appointment, it has a measurable negative impact on everyone's access to services and can adversely affect readiness levels." The 2nd MDG logged 5,366 missed appointments in 2014, costing the Air Force more than $1 million. "We understand that unforeseen circumstances may sometimes prevent someone from attending their appointment," Jones said. "But when you 'no-show' for an appointment it can not only negatively affect your own readiness, it also prevents your colleagues or family members from getting an appointment, possibly for an urgent issue." To combat no-shows, the 2nd MDG uses an appointment reminder system that calls patients two days prior to their scheduled appointment, allowing patients to confirm, reschedule or cancel their appointment. "When used correctly the reminder system helps us maintain an accurate appointment schedule, allowing us to offer services to the largest number of patients," Jones said. The appointment reminder system relies on the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, for patient contact information. This makes it important to update DEERS whenever your information changes, Jones explained. Airmen can update their DEERS information online at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect or by calling 800-538-9552. Appointment no-shows can also affect Airmen at work. When an Airman misses an appointment, the 2nd MDG informs the patient's chain of command. Too many missed appointments may result in non-judicial punishment. "We're asking the men and women of Barksdale to help us help them by cancelling at least 24 hours in advance so their appointment can be offered to another patient," Jones said. "Additionally, if you are enrolled in MiCare, you can take advantage of emailing your healthcare provider directly at any time," Jones added. "If using MiCare, we request that you notify us as early as possible so we can ensure your message reaches everyone it needs to in order to provide you with the most complete care available." You can cancel or reschedule an appointment by contacting the 2nd MDG central appointment line at 318-456-6555 or online if you booked your appointment through www.tricareonline.com. "We welcome your feedback as we improve our processes," Jones said. "Thanks for helping us take care of you and your family."