In medical practices, the usage of text message reminders decreased DNAs by 25%.
SMS reminders let patients know when their doctor’s appointment is set and provide them the option to reschedule if needed within a fair amount of time. These reminders are harmful to people with memory problems and those who require prompt or continuous medical care.
Not only is it essential for patients’ health and medical care that they keep their appointments. However, last-minute cancellations and rescheduling, especially from patients who Did Not Attend (DNA), might result in expenses for the medical practice itself.
DNA: What is it?
Patients who missed their appointment are referred to as “DNA,” which stands for “Did Not Attend.” Patients skipping appointments can be detrimental to a person’s health and is a problem for medical practices across the healthcare sector.
Being open and honest with patients fosters trust, which raises the possibility of repeat business and improves general health. Medical clinics can reduce administrative expenses and save time by using an online SMS gateway to automate personal text messages for each patient’s appointment.
Why do medical procedures have issues with DNAs?
The impact of DNAs on medical practice can have a significant impact on patient health, patient faith in the clinic, and practice costs.
Health
Giving patients the right care is the main objective of medical practices. Providing such care includes making sure patients show up for visits, particularly if they need continuous care. Making appointments can be essential for discussing test results, evaluating medical therapy, and a
obtaining prescriptions for particular drugs, making recommendations, and a lot more.
Have faith
Sharing private and sensitive information with a stranger might be difficult. Patients are less inclined to return to a medical practice if they don’t believe that their private information is handled effectively. Disrespect, misunderstandings, or a general lack of interest in the patient could be the cause of this. Anytime during their encounter with a medical practice, this could occur. For instance, scheduling an appointment via the phone or online, standing in line, and actually having a consultation. Being professional is essential to establishing and preserving patient confidence.
Responsibility
Setting up an appointment is as much the patient’s responsibility as it is the practice’s. When a patient makes an appointment, it is also the staff member’s duty to make sure that all of the information is entered accurately. DNAs may result from a miscommunication of appointment specifics.
Encouragement
Making referrals is an essential component of providing medical care. Both the patient and the referred specialist must receive accurate information from the doctor making the reference. The patient can decide not to schedule a referral appointment in the first place if they are not given proper information and do not comprehend the significance of the recommendation. To ensure patient retention and sustain a positive discourse, it is essential to assist patients during this process and pay attention to their requirements.
The numbers
In the healthcare industry, time and expenses are already major concerns. The total cost to the patient may increase if a medical office must spend time and money on DNAs, appointment cancellations, and rescheduling.
Why send an SMS?
Missing some appointments may also prevent you from receiving the appropriate medical care. An estimated 30% of malpractice instances between 2009 and 2013 were directly caused by poor communication. Providing high-quality service and care requires making sure that patients and other medical professionals receive the right information via SMS. Features consist of:
Setting up two-way texting
ID of the sender
Lists of contacts and groups
Reports on deliveries
Security Using Email to Send SMS
Making a schedule
Studies show that DNA patients are reduced when notifications are issued prior to appointments. Notification recipients were 25% less likely to “no-show” for appointments and 23% more likely to visit the medical clinic. Setting up customized text reminders using a reliable SMS gateway is a quick and simple method of informing patients of impending dates. Setting up text reminders is as simple as scheduling the appointment.
Two-way dialogue
Make use of keywords and trigger replies to create a smooth communication experience. When a patient replies to an SMS reminder confirming an appointment, the medical center is informed that the patient has received the message and will be present at the appointment. Additionally, it enables direct communication between the patient and the medical clinic.
For instance, patients are asked to respond with ‘Y’ to confirm their appointment or ‘N’ to cancel in the reminder text. “Thank you, we look forward to seeing you 10 minutes before your appointment at Return Healthcare Centre” is the prompted response that is sent if the patient answers “Y.” Alternatively, a triggered response that reads, “Thank you for informing us that you would like to cancel your appointment at Return Healthcare Centre,” is sent if the patient answers “N.” Please give 9700 7000 a ring to reschedule.
ID of the sender
The ability to brand text messages with Sender ID helps ensure that the receivers are aware of who is sending them. This could be the sender’s name or a unique alphanumeric number.
Return Healthcare Centre, for instance: We appreciate you choosing to use our SMS appointment reminder service. When your next appointment with us comes up, we’ll get in contact.
Lists of contacts
Putting contacts in lists is the simplest approach to make sure that the right information reaches the right person. These lists may be based on location, demography, or other distinguishing characteristics. For instance, contacts could be arranged into lists as Dr. Simopoulos’s patients, Dr. Natur’s patients, and Dr. Whim’s patients.
Reporting
Tracking patient interactions and documenting the effects of SMS reminders on the medical center are made easier by the delivery rate of messages sent. Reporting can also provide the content of messages delivered to contact lists and specific recipients. A successful SMS marketing campaign promoting pertinent medical practice news, including scientific and medical news, might also be developed using this information.
Information that is sensitive
The right information should be included in the communications that are given to patients. SMS sharing of private information might raise privacy and security issues, so it should only be done with permission and when absolutely required.
From email to SMS
Email to text can be a quick and easy way to send SMS using an existing email platform. Any email platform may support email to SMS, which can be used for messages sent while on the go.
Research indicates that the use of SMS reminders reduces the DNAs of medical clinics. What are you waiting for? Reaching out to patients and offering a cost-effective contact service is simple and safe.