SMS Messaging

Notification of normal lab results

Most patients wish to know about normal results as well as abnormal as soon as possible. If your practice's policy is to notify normal results, using TXT over phone contact will save substantial costs in staff time and phone bills and help to build patient relationships and add loyalty.

IMPORTANT Best Practice Software recommend that abnormal results or any message that contains clinical information should not be notified by SMS message unless your practice has consent in writing from the patient that you may do so.

Notification of regular results

INR results is convenient for patients familiar with recording their own results. Cholesterol level results could also be sent.

Following up overdue accounts

Texting is an inexpensive, personalized way of following up overdue accounts.

Recalls for smears and immunizations

Patient reminders can be sent in advance at last procedure for next visit.

Appointment reminders

An inexpensive method to reduce the number of 'no shows' at your practice, and particularly useful for specialists and physiotherapists.

Appointment Delay notifications

Help to ease patient frustration levels because appointments are running late. Use SMS to inform patients of appointment book delays prior to their arrival.

Medication Reminders

For those on regular medications, a reminder can be sent just before their medication is due, for example, a warfarin dose reminder following an INR result.

Communications with staff

Quickly contact staff members who are out of the practice. For example, 'Please call in to Radiographer while out and pick up X-rays'.

General patient contact

A convenient method for unintrusive requests for patient information. For example, 'Please reply to this text message with your NHI number.' for reply-capable messages.

Promotions

You may wish to inform patients who have elected to receive promotional information from your practice, for example, half price checkups, or free influenza vaccinations.