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Text Reminders

What are texting appointment and medication reminders?

Text messaging is a way of sending information to and from cell phones and certain personal digital assistants (PDAs). You can use text messaging to send and/or receive reminders about upcoming healthcare appointments or about taking medications.

There are a number of options for sending texting reminders. These include secure Web accounts accessed from your computer or software that allows you to schedule and track appointment and medication reminders. There are also websites that allow you to set up medication, appointment, and refill reminders.

Examples of free or inexpensive online resources for setting up and/or receiving texting reminders include Med Action Plan , My Med Schedule , Tibotec , and Truvada .

Examples of vendors offering software that integrates texting reminders into your existing client record systems include Intelecare , Patient Prompt , Exco InTouch , TeleVox , DrTxt , and OnTimeRx

Ways to use texting reminders in response to HIV

• Help reduce no-show rates for HIV-related appointments.
• Increase HIV medication adherence.

Examples from the Field

• Whitman-Walker Clinic uses text reminders to communicate with their clients.
• The University of Virginia is carrying out a study exploring the use of text messaging for HIV appointment reminders and treatment compliance.
• Children's Memorial Hospital is planning to use two-way messaging for a pilot HIV medication-adherence study with adolescents who have previously failed treatment, or are newly diagnosed.