Family member update notifications (with consent)

Purpose

1.1. To automatically notify authorized family members about key updates in a patient’s alcoholism treatment journey, ensuring transparency, engagement, and compliance with consent and privacy regulations.
1.2. To provide real-time or scheduled notifications regarding patient progress, session attendance, medication adherence, crisis alerts, or other significant milestones after explicit participant consent.
1.3. To reduce manual communication workload for staff, ensuring families remain informed and included in the care process, and to offer flexible methods—SMS, email, push notification, portal update—suited to varied preferences.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Patient check-in or check-out is recorded in the treatment management system.
2.2. Completion, scheduling, or cancellation of treatment sessions.
2.3. Medication administered, missed, or modified.
2.4. Crisis event such as relapse risk flagged by staff or monitoring device.
2.5. Explicit staff update regarding patient progress or care plan changes.
2.6. Consent on file for the designated family recipients.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Messaging API — Configure POST /Messages for sending SMS to family contact numbers.
• Sample: Map patient management system event to Twilio API using recipient phone and message template.

3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Mail Send API — Set up POST /mail/send for templated update emails.
• Sample: Trigger SendGrid email when a new patient milestone is logged.

3.3. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks — Send POST request to family-specific Slack channels for discreet updates.
• Sample: Push event-based notifications formatted for context.

3.4. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhook Connector — Configure JSON payload to send updates to private family group channels.

3.5. WhatsApp Business API
• Feature/Setting: Send Message Endpoint — Trigger WhatsApp updates using patient/family contact info.

3.6. Apple Push Notification Service (APNs)
• Feature/Setting: Send Push Notification — Send iOS push updates to a family member’s app upon triggers.

3.7. Firebase Cloud Messaging
• Feature/Setting: Topic Messaging — Deliver Android push notifications when flagged events occur.

3.8. Pusher
• Feature/Setting: Channels API — Push real-time web/mobile update to authenticated family members.

3.9. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: /messages Endpoint — Automate email with event-driven status to family addresses.

3.10. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Process Builder + Messaging/Email API — Trigger outbound alerts upon treatment status changes.

3.11. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation + Email API — Initiate engagement workflow when patient records trigger rules.

3.12. Google Workspace (Gmail API)
• Feature/Setting: /send — Auto-send secure Gmail update to authorized parties.

3.13. PagerDuty
• Feature/Setting: Events API — Alert for emergency/crisis incident to family roles in high-priority cases.

3.14. Zendesk
• Feature/Setting: Trigger + Notify Target — Send SMS/email from Zendesk updates relevant to family.

3.15. Intercom
• Feature/Setting: Custom Bot/Outbound Message — Configure event-triggered family notifications.

3.16. Microsoft Outlook API
• Feature/Setting: SendMail — Create and send update email to family addresses via Outlook.

3.17. Telegram Bot API
• Feature/Setting: sendMessage — Send updates via Telegram bots to opted-in family contacts.

3.18. Discord Webhooks
• Feature/Setting: POST Message — Send event-based notifications to private Discord family channels.

3.19. Freshdesk
• Feature/Setting: Automations + Email Notifications — Initiate ticket or message to next of kin.

3.20. Zoom
• Feature/Setting: Webinar Registration + Email Reminder — Alert family of upcoming group sessions/events.

3.21. DocuSign
• Feature/Setting: Envelope Completion Notification — Notify on signed consents or treatment agreements.

3.22. Calendly
• Feature/Setting: Event Triggers + Notification Settings — Confirm or remind family about scheduled consultations.

Benefits

4.1. Ensures family engagement and support with real-time updates, reinforcing patient accountability and morale.
4.2. Reduces risk of miscommunication or missed critical incidents by automating delivery.
4.3. Eases staff administrative burden, allowing focus on direct care.
4.4. Lets families choose their preferred channel, boosting acceptance and satisfaction.
4.5. Maintains strict compliance with privacy, consent, and data protection protocols in delivery.
4.6. Enables detailed audit trails and documentation of all outbound communications.