What should be done if a patient arrives late for an appointment?

When a patient arrives late for an appointment, determining if the appointment can still be honored is the most appropriate course of action. This approach allows for a flexible response based on the context of the situation. It considers factors such as how late the patient is, the total time allocated for their visit, and the overall schedule of the healthcare provider.

By assessing whether the appointment can still be accommodated, healthcare personnel demonstrate a willingness to support the patient while maintaining the integrity of scheduling and overall patient flows. If time allows for the appointment to be completed without negatively impacting subsequent patients, then the appointment should proceed as planned. This choice emphasizes patient-centered care and ensures that efforts are made to respect the patient’s needs while also managing the clinic's schedule effectively.

Other options, such as automatically canceling the appointment or turning the patient away without discussion, do not take into consideration the specific circumstances of each case and could leave the patient without necessary care. Rescheduling might also be unnecessarily disruptive if the appointment could still be honored within a reasonable timeframe. Thus, evaluating the possibility of proceeding with the appointment is the most logical and compassionate approach.