DNAs are a problem common to most practices and in many cases the appointment has simply been forgotten. Charging for missed appointments can help reduce the incidence; however, this often generates bad feeling and can result in the patient taking their custom elsewhere.

With the majority of the population owning a mobile phone it makes sense to use a text message to remind patients of their impending appointment. SMS Plus from Software of Excellence allows you to do just that. They will work out how many appointments you are likely to make over a defined period and calculate the amount of text messages you will require.

Should your business increase, you will never be left short, as they will monitor your usage and notify you in the event that you need to purchase more and will carry over any that you have left at the end of each month.

Various reports can be generated to advise how many texts went through etc. The practice can also text land lines and can set the messages to run at whatever intervals they like so there really is no excuse for missed appointments.

Patients also find a text message less intrusive than a phone call and it can act as a diary entry and constant reminder to attend the appointment. Text messaging is quick, easy and cost effective – the rate per text is very competitive.

Reader response number 52