Text reminders more effective than robocalls

Laura Pedulli | | Health Exec | Precision Medicine

Text reminders are more effective than robocalls at confirming upcoming clinical appointments, and they help reduce daily no-shows.

Nashville-based Vanderbilt Medical Group (VMG) relies on robocalls, which remind patients of their appointments four days in advance. Under this system, VMG is able to refill approximately 60 percent of all cancellations, according to VUMC Reporter.

VMG schedulers began accepting requests for text reminders last September and found that it proved popular. Currently, about 25 percent of reminders go out by text message.

Roughly 50 percent of VMG text reminders get a response, compared to about 30 percent for VMG robocalls. This higher response rate, and the associated backfilling of cancelled visits, currently translates as approximately 50 fewer no-shows per day for VMG, according to VUMC Reporter.

Laura Pedulli

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