GLP-1-Related Cancellations Cost ASCs Thousands: How Dialog Health’s Texting Platform Helps Keep Patients Safe and Cases on Track

Key Takeaways on GLP-1-Related Cancellations Costing ASCs Thousands

• GLP-1 medications cause delayed gastric emptying, creating aspiration risks that force same-day cancellations costing ASCs $500-$3,000 per empty OR hour

• Traditional pre-op communication fails because phone calls reach voicemail, printed instructions get lost, and patients don't connect their "diabetes medication" to surgical requirements

• Dialog Health's 10-day automated text protocol screens patients early, with 71% responding in a median of just 13 minutes

• One facility's case study shows 2,184 cancellations prevented over 18 months after identifying 12% of patients as GLP-1 users who needed specific stop-date instructions

• Simple screening texts like "Are you taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or another GLP-1?" followed by clear timing instructions protect revenue, OAS CAHPS scores, and patient trust simultaneously

The Hidden Risk in Your OR Schedule

You've probably seen it happen.

A patient arrives for their procedure, prepped and ready, only for the team to discover they took their Ozempic dose three days ago.

The case gets canceled.

The OR sits empty.

Everyone's schedule falls apart.

This scenario plays out in surgery centers across the country as GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro transform how millions manage diabetes and weight.

These drugs slow gastric emptying, which sounds harmless enough until you realize what it means for anesthesia.

Patients can have residual stomach contents even after following standard NPO instructions perfectly.

The aspiration risk forces immediate postponement.

Some cases even require hospital transfers when complications arise.

What started as a single patient taking their weekly injection has cascaded into OR disruptions, lost revenue, and frustrated staff.

This challenge hits high-volume ASCs just as hard as specialty surgical practices.

No one is immune when patients don't realize their medication needs special consideration before surgery.

Why Traditional Pre-Op Communication Falls Short

Your staff probably makes those pre-op calls religiously.

You send detailed instruction packets.

The referring physician hands patients printed guidelines.

Yet somehow, critical information still slips through the cracks.

Those hard-copy instructions from referring providers end up buried in a pile of paperwork at home.

Phone calls reach voicemail more often than actual patients.

Even when you do connect, patients don't always make the connection between their "diabetes medication" and surgical requirements.

The biggest problem?

You're reacting to issues rather than proactively identifying which patients need special guidance.

Without a systematic way to screen for GLP-1 users early, you won't know there's a problem until surgery day arrives.

How Text Messaging Closes the GLP-1 Communication Gap

People check their phones 150 times a day on average.

They respond to texts faster than any other form of communication.

This simple reality makes SMS the perfect channel for time-sensitive medical information.

When you send a text asking about GLP-1 use, patients can respond immediately from wherever they are.

No phone tag.

No missed connections.

Just a quick exchange that confirms they got the message and understand what to do.

The Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society highlighted this exact approach in their November 10, 2025 article about Dialog Health's impact.

Centers using targeted text messaging report something remarkable: when patients reply "Got it, thank you," you know with certainty the information landed.

That confirmation alone prevents countless day-of surprises.

The 10-Day Protocol That's Changing Everything

Here's how the most successful ASCs handle GLP-1 screening now.

Ten days before surgery, an automated text goes out asking one simple question about GLP-1 use.

Patients who answer "yes" immediately receive clear, specific instructions.

Injectable versions need to stop 7 days before the procedure.

Oral formulations require just 24 hours of discontinuation.

The beauty lies in the timing.

Ten days gives you breathing room to catch non-responders and still leave patients enough time to comply.

If someone doesn't reply within 48 hours, the system flags them for follow-up.

Your team can send another text or make a quick call, knowing exactly who needs attention.

This scalable system slides right into your existing workflow without creating extra work.

Staff don't need special training.

Patients don't need new apps.

Everything happens through basic text messaging that works on any phone.

Real Numbers, Real Impact: 2,184 Cancellations Prevented

Dialog Health's case study reveals exactly what's possible when you implement smart GLP-1 screening.

One facility tracked their results over 18 months and the numbers speak for themselves.

First, 96% of their patients opted into text communications through Dialog Health's workflow.

Nearly three-quarters responded to the GLP-1 screening question.

The median response time?

Just 13 minutes.

Here's where it gets interesting.

A full 12% of patients – that's 2,184 people – identified themselves as GLP-1 users.

Without that screening text, every one of those cases risked same-day cancellation.

Instead, they all proceeded as scheduled.

The facility's AnalyticsPRO dashboard showed exactly which patients needed extra attention and when they received their instructions.

This isn't theoretical.

This is real-world proof that proactive texting prevents thousands of cancellations.

You can customize these campaigns for your specific patient population, adjusting timing and messaging based on what works best.

Sample Messages That Actually Work

Effective texts don't need to be complicated.

Start with straightforward screening:

"Hi Sarah, this is Mountain View Surgery Center. Are you taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or another GLP-1 medication for diabetes or weight loss?"

For patients on weekly injections, send targeted reminders:

"Just a reminder: Your procedure is next Thursday and you take a weekly GLP-1, so your last dose should be this Thursday. Please confirm you'll pause your medication or let us know if you'd like to speak with one of our nurses."

These easy-to-implement templates keep your team proactive without creating more work.

The messages feel personal even though they're automated.

Patients appreciate the specific guidance rather than generic warnings.

What This Means for Your ASC's Bottom Line

Empty OR time costs between $500 and $3,000 per hour depending on your specialty.

A single GLP-1-related cancellation wipes out an entire morning's profit margin.

Dialog Health prevents those losses before they happen.

You're also protecting something harder to measure: patient trust.

Nobody wants to take time off work, arrange childcare, and show up for surgery only to be sent home.

These cancellations create anxiety that lingers long after rescheduling.

Your OAS CAHPS scores benefit too.

Clear communication about pre-op instructions directly impacts how patients rate their care experience.

When procedures run on time, staff morale improves.

Surgeons stay happy.

The entire day flows better.

You're simultaneously protecting revenue, optimizing staffing efficiency, and boosting patient satisfaction.

The streamlined workflow reduces administrative headaches while delivering measurably better safety outcomes.

Your GLP-1 Solution Is One Quick Form Away

You've seen the numbers.

One facility prevented 2,184 GLP-1 cancellations with simple text messages.

That same system could be protecting your OR schedule next week.

Dialog Health's healthcare-specific platform delivers:

• 96% patient reach rates (compared to 30% for phone calls)

• 71% response rates in just 13 minutes

• 66% decrease in same-day cancellations across all procedures

Fill out this quick form and one of our healthcare communication experts will reach out to schedule a15-minute video call!

You'll see exactly how the platform works, get implementation timelines, and receive ROI calculations specific to your facility.