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Use of SMS text messaging to improve outpatient attendance

Authors

Downer, S. R., Meara, J. G., Da Costa, A. C.

Journal

Med J Aust

Publication Date

2005 Oct 3

Volume

183

Issue

Pages

366-8

HIT Description: electronic communications More info...
Purpose of Study: Assess the effectiveness of appointment reminders sent as SMS text messages to patients' mobile telephones on failure to attend (FTA) rates
Years of study: 2004
Study Design: historical control
Outcomes: impact on efficiency, utilization and costs

Summary:

Settings: patients with mobile telephone contact numbers who were scheduled to attend any of five outpatient clinics associated with the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Intervention: Messages were sent to mobile phones 3 working days prior to appointments and FTA rates were compared between the intervention group and historical controls
Evaluation Method: attendance data extracted from the outpatient scheduling system
Description: mobile phone data and appointment data was uploaded into the Telstra mobile online SMS business system which sent a single batch of reminder messages daily to a single mobile phone number for each patient
Changes in efficiency and productivity: Overall FTA rates were lower in the intervention group (9% rate reduction, p0.001)

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