What Behavioral Science Can Teach Healthcare About Patient Follow-Through — A Conversation with Sarah Waters, PhD
About this episode
The episode discusses how behavioral science can improve patient follow-through in healthcare.
On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast , host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Sarah Waters , PhD, founder of 50 West and a behavioral scientist trained at the London School of Economics . They explore how behavioral science can reshape patient engagement, reduce no-shows, improve medication adherence, and drive meaningful change in clinical outcomes. Sarah shares practical strategies for identifying patient barriers, reframing communication, and designing systems that help both patients and care teams follow through. Key Takeaways: Knowing isn’t enough — design for doing: Patients (and clinicians) often know what they should do, but behavior change requires intentional system design, not just more information or reminders. No-shows are predictable — and preventable: Long scheduling lead times increase no-show risk. Practices can reduce this by tightening scheduling windows, analyzing patterns by day/time, and proactively addressing barriers at booking. Ask better questions upfront: Instead of asking “When are you available?”, ask “What days don’t work for you?” — this subtle shift prompts patients to consider real-life constraints earlier. Move beyond…
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