SMS reminders reduce ‘no shows’ by 30%
More and more healthcare organisations are using text messaging in
order to enhance business operations, reduce ‘did not attends’ (DNAs)
and improve patient care, according to a recent report.
Outpatient clinics that are using SMS-based appointment reminder systems
are seeing a reduction of missed appointments by up to 30% even though
fewer than 20% of patients have elected to use the service, according to
the Research and Markets report.
“Bulk messaging technology can provide critical support to sectors
such as mental healthcare where outpatient clinics and social services
are under political pressure to ensure that patients keep appointments
and comply with medication regimens”, said Peter Tanner, Managing
Director of The Messaging Centre Ltd (TMC), which launched a web-based
SMS platform in May. “Text message-based reminder systems are
particularly useful for this sector because the demographic profiles of
persistent DNAs and mobile phone users are very similar”.
Sue Smith, Chief Executive of London’s Princess Grace Hospital, one
of the London-based firm’s customers, said: “Communication is so vital
between management staff in the daily operational management of a
hospital and we are finding the ease of our SMS system a valuable tool
in ensuring rapid response to our management challenges”.
These powerful two-way SMS messages can be sent directly from many
different platforms from PCs, PDAs, company or personal GSMs (global
systems for mobile communications).
Source: bjhc&im July 2006
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