Patient Adherence
The extent to which a patient follows a prescribed treatment plan, including taking medications, attending appointments, and completing pre- and post-operative instructions. Strong adherence improves outcomes and reduces complications, while poor adherence drives cancellations, readmissions, and avoidable cost.
What is patient adherence?
Patient adherence is the degree to which a patient follows the treatment plan their clinician has prescribed. It covers taking medications as directed, keeping appointments, and completing instructions before and after a procedure.
Adherence reflects the gap between what is recommended and what a patient actually does, which can be affected by understanding, cost, side effects, and practical barriers. Strong adherence means the patient consistently carries out the agreed plan of care.
Why does patient adherence matter?
Good adherence improves clinical outcomes and lowers the chance of complications, because treatment works best when it is followed as intended. Poor adherence, by contrast, can lead to worse health, repeat care, and avoidable cost.
In a surgical context, adherence to pre-operative and post-operative instructions reduces the risk of same-day cancellations and readmissions. For an ambulatory surgery center, patients who arrive properly prepared keep the schedule running smoothly and help avoid costly disruptions.
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