Pre-appointment reminders via email/SMS

Purpose

 1.1. Reduce no-shows by reminding addiction treatment center patients about upcoming pre-admission appointments with timely, multi-channel notifications.
 1.2. Support compliance, improve clinic workflow, and reinforce engagement and retention in early-stage patient onboarding.
 1.3. Increase operational efficiency for staff by automating time-consuming appointment follow-up tasks and minimizing manual errors.
 1.4. Provide better patient experience through personalized reminders that ensure patients are informed and prepared.
 1.5. Align messaging timelines with regulatory requirements and confidentiality best practices for sensitive mental health populations.

Trigger Conditions

 2.1. New patient appointment scheduled in EHR/CRM system.
 2.2. Change to appointment date/time or cancellation.
 2.3. Set interval prior to appointment (24h, 48h, or custom).
 2.4. Appointment not yet confirmed by patient.
 2.5. Manual/manual override flag by staff for urgent reminders.

Platform Variants

 3.1. Twilio (SMS, Voice)
  • Function: Use Messaging API
  • Setting: Configure SMS template, schedule via twilio.messages.create(), use "to", "from", and appointment variables.

 3.2. SendGrid (Email)
  • Function: Use v3 Mail Send API
  • Setting: Set dynamic transactional template, personalize with patient/appointment fields, trigger via API call.

 3.3. Mailgun (Email)
  • Function: /messages API endpoint
  • Setting: Use batch send with appointment vars, schedule or immediate push for reminders.

 3.4. Plivo (SMS)
  • Function: SMS API
  • Setting: Compose message content, use plivo.messages.create(), configure callback for delivery report.

 3.5. Nexmo/Vonage (SMS)
  • Function: Send SMS API
  • Setting: Set up message, insert {firstname}, {date}, monitor delivery with messageId tracking.

 3.6. RingCentral (SMS)
  • Function: SMS endpoint
  • Setting: Craft reminder body, trigger via workflow, set retry logic if delivery fails.

 3.7. Amazon SNS (SMS, Email)
  • Function: Publish API
  • Setting: Trigger message via topic subscription, adjust for patient preference (SMS/Email).

 3.8. Microsoft Outlook 365 (Email)
  • Function: Send Mail API
  • Setting: Draft template, personalizing subject/body, authorize via OAuth2.

 3.9. Google Workspace (Gmail API)
  • Function: users.messages.send
  • Setting: Use HTML templates, fill with start/end time, patient info.

 3.10. Slack (Direct Message)
  • Function: chat.postMessage
  • Setting: Send internal staff pre-visit reminders with patient initials, link to record.

 3.11. HubSpot (Email, SMS via workflow)
  • Function: Workflow automation
  • Setting: Create workflow for “Upcoming Appointment,” add delay/scheduling, use personalization tokens.

 3.12. Salesforce (Email, SMS via integrations)
  • Function: Process Builder/Flow
  • Setting: Configure action upon “Appointment Scheduled,” use Pardot for email, SMS plug-ins for mobile reminders.

 3.13. ActiveCampaign (Email, SMS add-on)
  • Function: Automated Campaign
  • Setting: Enroll new intake, schedule “reminder” automation, use SMS extension if needed.

 3.14. Zoho CRM (Email, SMS via extension)
  • Function: Workflow rule
  • Setting: Rule triggers on appointment field change, select communication channel.

 3.15. Infobip (SMS, Viber, Email)
  • Function: Omnichannel API
  • Setting: Set communication preference, trigger as per HIPAA-sensitive templates.

 3.16. ClickSend (SMS, Email)
  • Function: Message API
  • Setting: Draft reminder template, auto-fill fields with API triggers.

 3.17. MessageBird (SMS, WhatsApp)
  • Function: SMS API/Flow Builder
  • Setting: Configure personalized flow, respond to patient confirmation.

 3.18. OneSignal (Push, Email)
  • Function: Notifications REST API
  • Setting: Send push or email when event equals "pre-appointment," use segment filtering.

 3.19. Intercom (Email, In-app message)
  • Function: Series Automation
  • Setting: Trigger via contact field “appointment date,” schedule reminder stage.

 3.20. Aircall (Voice, SMS)
  • Function: API/Integration
  • Setting: Auto-send SMS after call booking, log event in patient timeline.

Benefits

 4.1. Reduces missed appointments, minimizing revenue loss and gaps in care.
 4.2. Frees staff time for high-value patient interaction and complex tasks.
 4.3. Personalizes experience, enhancing trust and satisfaction.
 4.4. Ensures timely, compliant communication for addiction treatment populations.
 4.5. Supports seamless onboarding and higher patient retention during a sensitive phase.