Appt. Reminders Via Text 20 Percent More Effective than Robocalls

Using text reminders instead of pre-recorded phone calls is proving beneficial for Vanderbilt Medical Group clinicians in Nashville, Tenn.


Using text reminders instead of pre-recorded phone calls is proving beneficial for Vanderbilt Medical Group clinicians in Nashville, Tenn.

In September 2013, VMG executives began asking patients whether they would rather receive reminders via text message than via phone. Twenty-five percent of all reminders are now going out via text, and the text reminders receive a response rate of 50 percent compared to 30 percent for phoned reminders.

The VUMC Reporter says the heightened response rate currently translates as approximately 50 fewer no-shows per day for VMG.