Automated pre-visit instructions by email/SMS

Purpose

1.1. The automation of pre-visit instructions by email/SMS aims to ensure patients receive timely, clear, and personalized directions before appointments, improving preparedness, reducing no-shows, automating repetitive communication, boosting patient engagement, and supporting compliance with healthcare protocols by automating patient outreach and reminders.
1.2. Automatedly deliver customized instructions, forms, location details, check-in procedures, and pre-appointment requirements to each patient, automating manual touchpoints, reducing administrative work, and ensuring consistent communication flow.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Appointment scheduled or updated in the EHR/EMR system triggers automation workflow.
2.2. Manual staff flagging for special instructions automates message delivery.
2.3. Patient self-scheduling via patient portal—automated trigger.
2.4. Pre-configured time interval before appointment (e.g., 24/48 hours prior) triggers automated notifications.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio (Programmable SMS)
• Feature/Setting: Automate sending SMS; set up automated messaging with appointment and instruction variables via programmable SMS API.

3.2. SendGrid (Mail Send API)
• Feature/Setting: Automated email instruction delivery; configure dynamic templates, automate delivery via v3 Mail Send endpoint.

3.3. Amazon SES (SendEmail API)
• Feature/Setting: Automating outbound pre-visit emails with templated messages; use SendEmail API for injection.

3.4. Nexmo (Vonage SMS API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate SMS notifications; configure automatable instructions delivery via SMS API.

3.5. Mailgun (Messages API)
• Feature/Setting: Automatedly send personalized pre-visit emails using stored patient data and automate triggers.

3.6. Plivo (SMS API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate instructional SMS; parameterized message content for appointment-specific data.

3.7. Microsoft Outlook (Graph API - sendMail endpoint)
• Feature/Setting: Automatedly send emails from clinic account; configure automated notifications via Graph API.

3.8. Google Workspace (Gmail API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate email draft and send via automate workflows; use Gmail API send endpoint.

3.9. Slack (chat.postMessage API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate internal notifications to staff for exception scenarios; configure channel bots.

3.10. ActiveCampaign (Automations)
• Feature/Setting: Automate segmentation and campaign delivery; configure triggers in Automation Builder.

3.11. Salesforce (Process Builder/Flow + Email Services)
• Feature/Setting: Automate emails based on record updates; use Process Builder or Flows to automate triggers.

3.12. HubSpot (Workflows)
• Feature/Setting: Configure automated sequences to email/SMS patients based on property changes.

3.13. Zendesk (Triggers + Automations)
• Feature/Setting: Automate messaging when appointments or tickets are updated.

3.14. Meditech (NPR/Externals)
• Feature/Setting: Automate outbound communication from EHR via scripting interfaces.

3.15. Epic (Interconnect APIs)
• Feature/Setting: Automate push notifications or emails to patients from MyChart using Interconnect endpoints.

3.16. Cerner (FHIR API + Messaging)
• Feature/Setting: Automate data extraction and initiate communications via FHIR Messaging API.

3.17. DrChrono (Communication API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate SMS/email reminders using Appointment Communications endpoints.

3.18. Zoho CRM (Workflow Rules + Email/SMS Integration)
• Feature/Setting: Configure workflow automation for communications upon appointment update triggers.

3.19. PatientPop (Communications Settings)
• Feature/Setting: Automate outgoing patient notifications and instructions via pre-built messaging templates.

3.20. MessageBird (SMS API)
• Feature/Setting: Automate SMS instructions with variable data insertion and scheduled sends.

3.21. Bitrix24 (Business Processes)
• Feature/Setting: Automate email/SMS sending via business workflow triggers on patient records.

3.22. Klaviyo (Flows)
• Feature/Setting: Automated email/SMS flows for healthcare communications triggered by scheduling events.

3.23. Mailchimp (Customer Journeys)
• Feature/Setting: Automate pre-visit instructional campaigns as part of automated journeys.

Benefits

4.1. Increases patient preparedness and compliance through automated, timely instructions.
4.2. Automates repetitive staff tasks, reducing errors and administrative burden.
4.3. Enables highly personalized, scalable, and automatable outreach.
4.4. Reduces appointment no-shows by automating reminders and requirements in real time.
4.5. Ensures consistent experience by automating patient communication protocols.
4.6. Automatedly supports operational efficiency and measurable patient engagement improvements.