Do appointment reminders go out automatically by text?

Patients get a text and can reply to confirm or reschedule. Staff only call the ones who do not answer.

How to automate it

How to automate “book, move and fill cancelled appointments”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

60 min

typically, every day

55%

of the time can be automated

Some setup

to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Let patients book online and fill cancellations from a waitlist

Online self-scheduling and automatic waitlist offers (like Epic MyChart Fast Pass) fill cancelled slots without phone calls.

Typically saves about 40% of the time2 h to set up

1Turn on online booking for the simplest visit types first (MyChart, NexHealth, Zocdoc, Phreesia or your PM system).
2Set clear rules on who can book what.
3Turn on automatic waitlist offers for cancellations.
4Put the booking link in reminders, the website and your voicemail.

Tools: Epic MyChart · NexHealth · Zocdoc · Phreesia

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Send appointment reminders and recalls automatically by text

Automatic two-way text reminders let patients confirm, cancel or reschedule by reply, and recall messages go out to patients due for follow-up. Calls only go to those who do not reply.

Typically saves about 75% of the time2 h to set up

1Turn on automated reminders in your EHR or patient messaging tool (MyChart, Luma, Weave, NexHealth, Artera).
2Set timing (for example 3 days and 1 day before).
3Allow replies to confirm or reschedule.
4Set up recall lists (annual visits, follow-ups) to send automatically.

Tools: Luma Health · Weave · NexHealth · Artera · Epic MyChart

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Do appointment reminders go out automatically by text?: Patients get a text and can reply to confirm or reschedule. Staff only call the ones who do not answer.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Medical assistant / front desk

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