Here's a design idea. Use AI to tailor the frequency of responses to each individual. For example: If John Doe was a no show for a past appointment,, or always late - he gets 10 reminders! If Mary is always on time and never misses - she gets no more than two. And variations in between based on each patients past experience. Think I'll patent this and wait for the royalties to pour in.
Taylor Maid - 3 months ago
As these comments suggest, every has different preferences. Patients should be able to customize their options, if the default settings are not ideal for them. I get some of my care from providers at my own institution and some from another local provider. The other organization sends a text reminder a few days before as well as an email. It's helpful and unobtrusive. My own institution sends multiple reminders from multiple different systems (registration, telehealth, health history), starts sending them 10 days in advance and does phone calls as well as texts and emails. I do not want a phone call and when I've confirmed that I'm coming, I don't want to keep getting multiple messages. If the confirmation means nothing, why even ask it? Fortunately I only have occasional appointments, a few times a year. But friends and family members have more complex health issues and are extremely frustrated by all the reminders as are other patients (according to our Press Ganey comments). Surely some one should be able to figure out a better system!!!
JT - 3 months ago
My providers with Trinity Health (which uses Epic) send a text reminding me of an appointment date/time but neglect to mention who the provider is. That requires an additional step on my part each time as I have more than one. They also ask me to do an e-check in with providers who do not require it.
Mike Cohen - 3 months ago
Too many reminders usually backfire. One or 2 reminders is sufficient. Some of my providers give so many that i either ignore them or request they stop sending them.
Marc Perry - 3 months ago
I like the VA practice of sending many reminders for every appointment. It works for me, I've never missed an appointment, and it's easier to find the latest reminder when searching through my texts. And the VA asks you to enter an alphanumeric code to confirm or cancel, this makes you pay attention to the message and your response.
AnotherDave - 3 months ago
How about reading prior reminder responses? Once I have confirmed that I will come to my appointment there is no need for anymore reminders.
Mike Cohen - 3 months ago
Too many reminders usually backfire. One or 2 reminders is sufficient. Some of my providers give so many that i either ignore them or request they stop sending them.
Christina C - 3 months ago
Regarding reminder texts, it is helpful to include a mechanism to confirm, reschedule or cancel. One of my providers does that and it is so much more useful than just a text of the upcoming time.
Here's a design idea. Use AI to tailor the frequency of responses to each individual. For example: If John Doe was a no show for a past appointment,, or always late - he gets 10 reminders! If Mary is always on time and never misses - she gets no more than two. And variations in between based on each patients past experience. Think I'll patent this and wait for the royalties to pour in.
As these comments suggest, every has different preferences. Patients should be able to customize their options, if the default settings are not ideal for them. I get some of my care from providers at my own institution and some from another local provider. The other organization sends a text reminder a few days before as well as an email. It's helpful and unobtrusive. My own institution sends multiple reminders from multiple different systems (registration, telehealth, health history), starts sending them 10 days in advance and does phone calls as well as texts and emails. I do not want a phone call and when I've confirmed that I'm coming, I don't want to keep getting multiple messages. If the confirmation means nothing, why even ask it? Fortunately I only have occasional appointments, a few times a year. But friends and family members have more complex health issues and are extremely frustrated by all the reminders as are other patients (according to our Press Ganey comments). Surely some one should be able to figure out a better system!!!
My providers with Trinity Health (which uses Epic) send a text reminding me of an appointment date/time but neglect to mention who the provider is. That requires an additional step on my part each time as I have more than one. They also ask me to do an e-check in with providers who do not require it.
Too many reminders usually backfire. One or 2 reminders is sufficient. Some of my providers give so many that i either ignore them or request they stop sending them.
I like the VA practice of sending many reminders for every appointment. It works for me, I've never missed an appointment, and it's easier to find the latest reminder when searching through my texts. And the VA asks you to enter an alphanumeric code to confirm or cancel, this makes you pay attention to the message and your response.
How about reading prior reminder responses? Once I have confirmed that I will come to my appointment there is no need for anymore reminders.
Too many reminders usually backfire. One or 2 reminders is sufficient. Some of my providers give so many that i either ignore them or request they stop sending them.
Regarding reminder texts, it is helpful to include a mechanism to confirm, reschedule or cancel. One of my providers does that and it is so much more useful than just a text of the upcoming time.