SMS Text Messaging for the NHS and Private Health Sector
Missed appointments are a huge problem in the health sector. Millions of people every year just don't turn up when expected - an official report by MORI puts the figure at a conservative five million. These 'Did Not Attends' (DNAs) are not only very expensive and a drain on already tight budgets, but also cause great inefficiency and lead to poor service.
By simply integrating text messaging with the existing PAS System, every organisation, from the local surgery to the county hospital, could save vast amounts of time and money each month. There are, of course, many other ways in which SMS messaging could be of great advantage, we have listed a few below, but the possibilities are almost endless.
- Appointment Reminders and Notifications - Our Health Sector Text Messaging Solutions integrate with almost all existing Electronic Appointment / PAS systems and we can also custom-build a solution or supply an API if required. SMS messages can be sent from familiar email client software, automatically scheduled and sent via contact database software, or simply sent using the included user-interface. The benefits of setting up automated, scheduled reminders are plainly obvious and this is very simple to do. Patients can even reply via SMS and the message is delivered to the correct recipient's email or Text Message Server inbox.
- Stay in contact with Staff - SMS messages are the quickest way to keep in contact with non office-bound staff; GPs, Nurses and Midwives, Bank Staff, Porters, Ambulance Crew and so on, can all be contacted discretely, without the need to 'leave a message' or wait for a call-back.
- Patient Services - In addition to appointment reminders, SMS solutions could also be used for patient services in any number of other situations; Automated text message information systems, Patient Transport booking/confirmation, messages to friends and relations of hospitalised patients, prescription ready for collection notifications and so on.
Text Messaging brings a vast array of possibilities for communications within the health sector and because our solutions integrate with any existing, or future applications, there are no limits to what could be done to improve services and save money.
For more information, please see the links in the menu above, phone us on 01962 835053 or email sales@avanquest-solutions.co.uk.
How much could you save?
Missed appointments can cost a substantial amount of money - at last estimate, over a quarter of a billion pounds a year, across the sector. Try our ROI calculator and see what a reduction of 25% could mean to your bottom line, not to mention your carbon footprint and time management.
"Text messages are more instantaneous and allow a greater flexibility for the person receiving them. The potential for numerous worker hours saved is enormous"
Click here for a selection of our Text Message Server Solutions Case Studies.