The business case for text messaging patients is compelling. If you are engaged in messaging therapy, you should use an encrypted texting service. But for most business functions—appointments reminders, billing reminders, etc—you do not need an encrypted channel so long as you have the consent of the patient.
So what are the reasons to text?
Ubiquity of Cell Phones
-Most Americans (72%) have a smart phone and 97% use their smart phone to text.
Preference
-Texting is the preferred communication channel of most Americans: 76% prefer text messages to phone calls or emails.
-75% of patients prefer appointment and payment reminders via text.
Convenience
-Texting is quick, takes much less time than a call or email; there is no waiting on hold.
-Texting doesn’t interrupt the patient’s day
Texting is more reliable, i.e. you are more likely to get through
-98% of text messages are read while only 22% of emails are opened!
-Response rates to texts is 209% higher than to phone calls!
-91% keep their cell phones within arms reach the entire day.
-19% of cell phone users never check voice mail.
In summary, use of texting in clinical practice can save money by cutting down on front office staff time on the phone while enhancing patient satisfaction.
We continue to add features and make upgrades. Major new features that will be available as of Wednesday of this week include:
Patient Self Registration-Patients can set up their own accounts without the involvement of you or your front office staff! In addition, patients can fill out all needed paperwork, e.g. Notice of Privacy Practices, Office Policies, etc. Once the patient is registered, they can make an online appointment, if you choose to use that feature. Check the release notes for instructions on how to add a link for self-registration.
Teletherapy– Teletherapy has been simplified and upgraded. Now each patient has a dedicated room for teletherapy, (so no need to choose your patient from a drop down list.) All they do is click on the link to enter the room, then wait until it is time for the appointment. If you, the clinician, arrives before the patient, they will pop up as soon as they arrive. Other upgrades include cross browser compatibility (chrome, firefox, Safari, Edge.) Devices, such as IPAD, are supported. This means teletherapy will work with any browser, tablet or other device.
In the next few weeks we will be adding the ability to provide group conferences and messaging.
Face Sheet-There is now a face sheet for each patient. The face sheet includes Account, Clinical, Scheduling, Demographic, and Relationship information. See release notes for more information.
Full PDF of patient chart-You can now get a full PDF of a patient chart. To print off the chart, go to the patient chart—membership. At the bottom of the page click print chart. This will put a copy of the chart in the uploads section of the patient chart for printing or saving
Other enhancements—Check release notes.