Patients who are no-shows for their doctors’ appointments cause efficiency problems and irritation for many practice managers, as well as increase expenses for the practice.  No-show fees can be a deterrent, but they don’t guarantee compliance with scheduled appointments.  Many practices either have receptionists call patients with appointment reminders, take their chances and deal with no-shows as best they can, or have both things occur as patient reminder calls slip through the cracks in staffers’ busy schedules.