Ask the Doc Published Dec. 7, 2006 By 43rrd Medical Group POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Q: I was late for my medical appointment last week, and I had to reschedule. This was considered a no-show, and it got a lot of attention. Why is that so important? A: The clinic understands there are times that patients cannot make an appointment. In order to allow others to be seen, we request that you provide as much time as possible to allow our staff to offer the appointment to another person. Each missed appointment costs the clinic approximately $90. Over the last year, the clinic lost 2,685 appointments to no-shows, at a cost of $241,650. It's not all about costs, but more about access. We strive to provide convenient access to our enrolled population. When someone misses an appointment and enough time isn't provided to us to fill that appoinment, then we all lose that time. We request that all appointments be cancelled 24 hours or more in advance, if events or situations arise that prevent you from keeping your appointment. Please send your questions to askthedoc@pope.af.mil. We look forward to hearing from you!