Dialog Health announces the publication of a new client success story highlighting how its HIPAA-compliant, conversational two-way text messaging platform is helping a national ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operator achieve significant improvements in several aspects of its revenue cycle management, including increasing revenue and decreasing staff workload. The ASC operator chose Dialog Health and leveraged the company's Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Solution to improve its patient financial communication and collections. From November 2021–October 2022, the ASC operator's surgery centers, using Dialog Health's RCM Solution, achieved the following: Decreased year-over-year accounts receivable by 21% 54% of patients paid off their balance in full after receiving just one or two text reminders Substantial return on investment in the Dialog Health Revenue Cycle Management Solution Significant increase in patient usage of online payment portals Better overall patient payment experience Decrease in staff hours associated with manual patient outreach and communication, collections, and data entry 96% of patients remained opted-in to the Dialog Health two-way text messaging The Dialog Health RCM Solution has streamlined and improved collections for the national ASC operator's surgery centers and reduced staff labor associated with securing patient payments. For patients, Dialog Health has made communication about payments less intrusive while making it simpler to submit payments via portal or phone. To access the ASC revenue cycle management case study, click here . Organizations interested in adding two-way text messaging for patient communications should contact Dialog Health , email info@dialoghealth.com , or call (877) 666-1132.

We can't believe it has already been a week since we left the puppy pen at the ASHHRA23 annual conference . It was a great show, and the Dialog Health team caught up with many old friends and made many new ones. Reflecting on our time in Charlotte, here are the top 5 things we learned from healthcare human resources leaders at ASHHRA23: Puppy pens are the best. 🐕 We will be disappointed if they're not part of every future meeting we attend. Recruitment and retention remain significant challenges and are likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Technology is playing an increasingly important role in helping organizations improve, streamline, and reduce staff workloads. Supporting and improving mental health for our employees is vital. Finding tools and resources to help our HR departments with these efforts must be a priority. It's critical to gain improved insight into the effectiveness of communication channels. Analytics can help measure results and provide key insights that can lead to positive changes. A growing driver of staff satisfaction is engagement. Staff want to feel like their opinions matter and are eager to share their thoughts on what's working well and what could work better. This makes two-way texting a must-have facet for organizations leveraging texting. One-way texting does not permit that important, conversational aspect of communication with staff. If you didn't make it to ASHHRA23 and would like to learn why our two-way texting solutions are relied upon by healthcare organizations nationwide to improve employee communication and engagement, just text ASHHRA23 to 88079 or fill out this form .

We've had the past week-plus to reflect on our time at the terrific ASCA 2023 Conference & Expo . It was yet another great meeting hosted by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. We had the opportunity to meet up with old friends and make many new ones while learning about the biggest trends, opportunities, and challenges for the ambulatory surgery center industry. Here are some of the top things we learned from attendees, presenters, and fellow exhibitors at the meeting. Cookies make a great booth giveaway (super-soft T-shirts, too). A lot of ASCs are already using text messaging. That's good news. But many of the texting solutions in use have risks and/or limitations. Some aren't HIPAA-compliant, which is problematic if you're sharing protected health information (PHI) or other sensitive data. Other solutions don't allow two-way conversational texting, which significantly decreases the ways text messaging can be used. And then there are "free" or bare-bones solutions that further reduce capabilities and can dissuade usage of texting. In other words, not all healthcare texting software is the same. Staffing issues (e.g., recruitment, retention, burnout, satisfaction) remain a, if not the , top challenge facing ASCs today. Surgery centers are working to leverage a variety of tactics and solutions to navigate these issues. One presenter encouraged ASCs to better engage staff by providing a method for them to communicate and make them feel more involved in operations and success of the facility. For some ASCs, texting is helping greatly here. One of the most significant barriers ASCs are facing when trying to engage with patients is communication. ASCs are prioritizing technology that can more easily integrate with an existing EHR or other database system. "Interoperability" is a big buzzword these days, and rightfully so. It's essential for solutions to speak with one another to help ASCs take advantage of automation and streamlined workflows — and ultimately "do more with less." Some veteran staff are resistant to using new technologies because of concerns that such solutions will diminish the patient care experience. When adding new solutions, ASCs will want to demonstrate how the technology can enhance the patient experience and give patients a greater opportunity to participate in their care. Surgery centers should also emphasize how new technologies can help in other areas that matter greatly to staff, including improving outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, growing volume (i.e., providing care to more patients), and reducing taxing, manual processes. If you were unable to attend ASCA 2023 and would like to learn why Dialog Health's HIPAA-compliant, two-way texting solutions are relied upon by ASCs and surgery center operators nationwide to improve patient and staff communication and engagement, fill out this form .

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published new rules targeting scam text messaging, which is great news for medical practices using or considering whether to add texting as a communication channel. In a new Physicians Practice column , Dialog Health Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Sean Roy explains the FCC's rules and why it's a welcome development for healthcare practices. He then shares key qualities medical practices should look for in a healthcare text messaging company, which include choosing a partner that understands the FCC rules and designs its texting technology to comply with them. As Roy states, "The FCC's new rules and commitment to cracking down on spam and scam texts will only help to solidify texting as an integral — if not central — component of healthcare communications." Access Roy's Physicians Practice column .

Last year, we shared one of our team member's favorite holiday baking recipes. This recipe was so well received that we wanted to share it again this year. And like the Dialog Health platform, the recipe has received some upgrades over the past year that we think makes it even better. The full recipe is below. The Dialog Health team wishes you happy baking and you and yours a happy and safe holiday season! * * * Ingredients 2 1/4 cup flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature) 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels (1 bag) Sea salt flakes (e.g., Maldon) Directions Preheat oven to 375°F In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda until combined. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together butter, shortening, dark brown sugar, and sugar. Hand stir. Mix in 2 eggs and vanilla. You do not want to over stir as it will whip the eggs and make the cookies cake-like. Mix in the dry Ingredients - hand stir. Add in the chocolate chips and hand stir until well mixed. Scoop good-sized cookie dough on to baking sheet. Consider using a small ice cream scoop. Sprinkle a few flakes of sea salt on each cookie. Bake for 9-12 minutes. Every oven is different so watch very carefully! Take the cookies out of the oven when they start to brown on top. They may look just slightly undercooked. Drop the cookie sheet on the counter (takes the air out of the cookies). Let them stay on the cookie sheet to rest for 3-5 minutes before removing from sheet. They should be nice and gooey inside. And the most important step: Enjoy! Tip: If you have time, refrigerate the dough overnight and bake the next day.

This might be surprising to hear from a text messaging company, but sometimes NO texting solution is better than the wrong one. Case in point: A Dialog Health employee had a medical test scheduled last week that their physician had booked over a month ago. This employee signed up for the practice's texting service to receive a reminder text and other updates for the appointment. No appointment reminder text ever came. When the employee arrived for the appointment, they were asked if they had anything to eat or drink in the previous 6 hours. They had just eaten lunch … because they had never received communication about not eating or drinking. The test had to be cancelled and rescheduled. This test had three technicians scheduled for an hour. We don't even want to know how much this no-go cost the facility. The Dialog Health employee drove 35 minutes to the facility. It was the definition of a lose-lose for the facility and patient, all because of poor communication. This employee asked who the facility used as a texting vendor and was not surprised to learn it was a "marketing texting platform" known for their outbound marketing … … but NOT patient communication. If someone signs up for texting for their appointment, they are expecting to receive text messages about their appointment. Don't disappoint your patients. It not only hurts satisfaction but costs your facility time and money. Instead, get the best texting platform built for healthcare .

Text messaging is the preferred method of communication for a majority of Americans. That's why a growing number of healthcare organizations are turning to texting as the backbone for their communications. Healthcare organizations researching their healthcare SMS texting solution options — either to start using text messaging or upgrade from an existing platform — will want to seek a texting technology that includes a wide variety of features. The right features will help healthcare organizations achieve improvements in their financial, clinical, and operational performance. What features should you look for? Read on. Key Features of the Best Healthcare Text Messaging Solutions The following are some of the most important qualities you'll want to ensure describe and are included with the healthcare texting software you're considering for your organization. Text messaging designed for healthcare Seek a text messaging platform designed by healthcare experts specifically for healthcare providers. Such healthcare expertise is essential to understanding a patient's journey and the essential communication points along the way. This expertise is also key to understanding how to effectively engage with patients' family members, staff, physicians, and vendors. Tip: When speaking with healthcare SMS software companies, ask for case studies that demonstrate how their healthcare organization clients have successfully leveraged the texting solution. Two-way text messaging Any healthcare text messaging platform must come standard with 2-way texting, also referred to as "conversational texting." Two-way texting enables you send messages and receive messages. Why is this important? Without two-way texting, you'll find that using texting for verifying patient appointments, post-appointment follow-up communications, conducting surveys, requesting patients to answer preoperative questions, engaging with patients about payments, and other vital use cases will be severely limited or impossible to achieve. Compliance with healthcare and communication requirements Make sure any healthcare texting platform you're considering adheres to the latest HIPAA, SSAE, TCPA , and https://www.ctia.org/ CTIA standards. These rules will help ensure your organization's protected health information is kept just that — protected — and your organization will not risk running afoul of communication and solicitation laws. Tip: Did you know the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is cracking down on spam texting ? The top healthcare texting company you partner with should understand the FCC's rules and design its platform to comply with these emerging regulations. Choosing such a vendor will help ensure your messages consistently reach and are engaged with by recipients. Cloud-based healthcare text messaging Why do you want your healthcare texting software to live in the cloud? There are a multitude of benefits. You get improved security, streamlined updates and upgrades, and ease of scaling, just to name a few. Tip: If you intend to use two-way texting across your enterprise, you'll definitely want a cloud-based platform. Being on the cloud will permit you to easily add and integrate text messaging into more departments and expand your use of text messaging as your organization evolves and expands. Ease of integration Texting can make communication fast and efficient, leading to reduced workloads and decreased reliance on slow, costly manual outreach. At least that's what a healthcare SMS platform should enable you to do. When researching your healthcare text messaging options, seek an SMS platform that successfully integrates with existing systems. This will better ensure you achieve a consistent flow of information. ​Tip: Ease of integration is critical, as is ease of use. Look for a healthcare text messaging solution that includes a console that empowers you to develop and manage text campaigns in a straightforward manner. When software isn't intuitive, users are not as likely to leverage it as much as they could and should. Ability to easily add hyperlinks Sometimes you will want to share more information than you can in a text message. The good news is that the best healthcare texting solutions include the ability to add web links to text messages. This capability should come standard, allowing you to provide links to endless resources and information, including maps, videos, surveys, educational tools, payment portals, forms, social media accounts, and online review websites . Tier 1 connectivity Ask healthcare SMS vendors whether their technology includes tier 1 carrier connectivity. This functionality is key for achieving the best-in-class ability to send and receive healthcare SMS texts across all mobile providers. Text campaign flexibility As users of healthcare texting will tell you, there are many different types of text messaging campaigns. Some are simple, such as those requiring a single message to a user base, while others are more advanced, leveraging multiple messages and multi-layered campaigns and workflows. Seek a healthcare SMS texting platform will enable you to execute everything from easy to more complex campaigns and tackle these efforts with ease. Tip: While executing more complex campaigns shouldn't be difficult, you may have questions about how to best do so and achieve your goals. The top healthcare text messaging companies will have personnel available to help answer questions and assist you in setting up and executing campaigns. Multiple SMS functions While a healthcare texting platform should be easy to use, that doesn't mean it should lack helpful features and options. Those features and options should just be easy to use! Examples of what you will find offered with the best healthcare text messaging solutions on the market: on-screen delivery receipts, extended character length, ability to view and export your data whenever you choose, mobile keyword sign-up, custom subscriber fields, custom workflow campaigns, and inclusion of a second mobile number (e.g., family member, caregiver). Flexible delivery of text messages One of the features users of top healthcare text messaging technology love most is the ability to pre-schedule messages to go out to recipients — on top of sending real-time messages. In addition, some platforms include the technology to have text messages automatically go out following a "trigger" event. Examples include messages going out to patients a defined number of days in advance of or following an appointment. Another trigger-event example is messages going out to healthcare staff a number of days prior to the start of open enrollment and throughout the open enrollment period to help encourage participation. Tip: Make sure the healthcare texting software you choose includes "drip" campaign capability, which essentially supercharges the use of trigger events. With drip messaging, a healthcare organization can set up their text messaging platform to trigger a series of automated messages sent at intervals when users take specific actions. Control the number of recipients Sometimes you'll want to send one patient or staff member a text message. Other times, you'll want to send a message to many individuals, such as all patients coming into your organization the next day or week, all staff members, members of a specific department within your organization, some or all of your vendor partners — the list goes on. The healthcare texting platform you choose should give you the ability to easily send a text message directly to an individual or a group broadcast to reach hundreds of people — or more! — and be able to do so in just minutes. Tip: Using a two-way healthcare SMS solution takes this capability to another level. Staff can easily engage with and gather information from multiple messaged recipients without ever leaving the texting platform or picking up the phone. Easy subscriber list management Organizations that maximize their invesetment in a top healthcare texting solution use it to communicate with many different types of people, like new patients, past patients (such as for recall programs ), new staff for onboarding, all staff, leadership, and department-specific teams. Healthcare texting platforms should come with the ability for you to categorize (i.e., group) your subscriber lists, easily sort these lists, and personalize messages accordingly. Healthcare texting analytics and reporting The best texting technology for healthcare organizations also include robust analytics and reporting, providing you with insight into whether your texts are reaching subscribers and getting the engagement you expect. With healthcare text messaging analytics and live reporting, you gain the ability to auto-generate a wide range of reports, such as who received your text and took any intended action associated with its message, who received the text and did not take any action, and who never received the text. ​Tip: By using the information and insight from analytics and reporting, you can make data-driven decisions on what communication actions to take next. This will reduce time spent on manual outreach while helping you connect with patients and staff in the communication manner they prefer and enhancing staff productivity. Access to custom short codes You know those five- or six-digit numbers that sometimes text you? You may associate them with financial institutions, e-commerce companies (e.g., Amazon.com), airlines, and multi-factor verification codes from various websites, to name a few. Those are called "short codes," and they are a great texting tool. Some of the biggest benefits associated with short codes are that they permit users of texting to run a wider variety of personalized campaigns and are easier to remember than a traditional, 10-digit phone number. ​​The healthcare texting company you partner with should be able to guide you on when it's best to use short codes and then provide the support that will help you secure and most effectively leverage short codes. Dialog Health: Leading Healthcare Texting Solutions for Today's Providers At Dialog Health, we are proud that our healthcare text messaging platform is relied upon by healthcare clients nationwide, including ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals and health systems, gastroenterology and radiology practices, anesthesia groups, and many other provider types. And we're proud that our two-way text messaging platform is being used by a growing number of leading organizations and operators nationwide. Why are providers increasingly turning to Dialog Health? Our platform helps organizations effectively engage patients , improve outcomes, boost staff productivity, grow bottom lines , and strengthen workflows, among many other benefits. To learn more about how our partner organizations use the Dialog Health text messaging platform throughout their enterprises, download this free eBook and then contact us by emailing info@dialoghealth.com , calling (877) 666-1132, or filling out this form . We would welcome the opportunity to discuss your communication and engagement goals and how Dialog Health will help you meet and exceed them.

Dialog Health, a two-way texting platform that enables information to be pushed to and pulled from patients, caregivers, and healthcare facility staff, announces the publication of a new home health case study . This success story highlights how the Dialog Health platform helped a home health agency achieve substantial improvements in patient satisfaction survey participation while decreasing staff workload. The home health agency selected Dialog Health after struggling to successfully conduct patient satisfaction surveys by phone and via a webpage accessed through an emailed hyperlink while allocating significant staff time to these satisfaction survey outreach methods. Home Health Patient Satisfaction Texting Campaign Overview: With Dialog Health's satisfaction survey solution, the agency launched a tailored post-visit survey text campaign. Every patient opting in for communication via text message during scheduling received a texted survey following their visit. The survey asked patients to reply to the text message and rank, on a scale of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), their satisfaction with the care provided by the home health clinician. The agency used the Dialog Health platform to easily include the name of patients receiving the text and the clinicians who provided their care, which helped personalize requests while further driving engagement. Those patients who participated in the texted survey and expressed satisfaction with the care provided by home health agency clinicians were asked to text back additional comments about their experience. Results: Text Messaging Delivers Big Satisfaction Survey and Workload Wins From a 12-month period (May 1, 2022–April 30, 2023), the home health agency achieved the following results through its patient satisfaction survey text message campaign: Nearly 6,000 patients completed the survey. This represented a 51% completion rate — well above the completion rate the agency was accomplishing using phone and email. More than 80% of patients responded that they were satisfied with the care provided by the home health agency and indicated they would work with the agency again. The number of staff hours associated with manual patient outreach, patient communication, and data entry was greatly decreased. Numerous compliments about the home health agency and its clinicians, which were shared with the clinicians and staff to help boost staff satisfaction. More than 90% of those patients receiving texted surveys remained opted-in to texting with the home health agency. The home health agency continues to rely upon Dialog Health to conduct its patient satisfaction surveys and is expanding how it is using two-way text messaging to support and strengthen other facets of its operations. Access the home health agency satisfaction survey case study . How Can Texting Improve Your Satisfaction Surveys? Organizations interested in adding text messaging for patient communications, including satisfaction surveys, should request a demo of Dialog Health , email info@dialoghealth.com , or call (877) 666-1132.

Did you know that nearly 68 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home? That figure from 2019, representing almost 1 in 5 people in the United States, is up more near 45 million from 1980. These statistics, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau , point to a vital need for businesses: the ability to communicate with customers in multiple languages. This need is even more important for healthcare organizations, where communication with patients and caregivers can greatly affect and even determine treatment success and outcomes. Research has shown that language barriers are associated with lower quality of healthcare and poorer health outcomes, while patient dissatisfaction and adverse events have been shown to be more prevalent among limited English proficiency patients than English-speaking patients. That's why it is imperative for healthcare organizations to use a text messaging solution which offers the ability to communicate in multiple languages. And that's why we've added a language feature in Dialog Health that allows users to easily select from an extensive list of languages across various character sets for the two-way text messages they send to patients, staff, caregivers, and others. What does the ability to use Dialog Health to communicate in multiple languages look like? Here are just a few examples of messages that could be sent in different languages along with their English translations: Spanish Saludos en nombre de ACME! Nuestros registros muestran que debe renovar la cobertura de los beneficios del OHP. Renuevelo en http://bit.ly/4l0dgf1hyn. Si ya lo ha renovado, no tenga en cuenta esta informacion. Si necesita ayuda, llame a los asistentes OHP de Benefits Co. al 877.666.1132. Escriba STOP para cancelar. Escriba HELP para pedir ayuda. English: Hi from ACME! Our records show you are due to renew coverage for OHP benefits. Renew at http://bit.ly/ 4l0dgf1hyn . If you have already renewed, please disregard! If you need help, call the OHP Assisters from Benefits Co. at 877.666.1132. Text STOP to opt out. Text HELP for help Somali Balantaada oo maliinta Jan 15 oo bilamneeysa 8:00 AM. Fadlan ka-soo hormar 15 daqiiqo xiliga balantaada. MAP: http://acme.mn/1uBW4TJ English: Your appointment starts on Jan 15 at 8:00 AM. Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. MAP: http://acme.mn/1uBW4TJ Hmong Thov tiv tauj MainStreet Health, lawv mam teem ib lub sij hawm los yog ntau lub sij hawm rau koj tuaj ntsib peb. Hu rau: 877-666-1132. English: Please contact MainStreet Health, they will schedule an appointment or several appointments for you to visit us Call: 877-666-1132. Multiple Languages: One of the Key Features of a Top Healthcare Texting Solution If your healthcare organization is looking to add conversational text messaging or upgrade your solution, you will want to look for a platform that includes the ability to choose and communicate in multiple languages, including all languages spoken by your patient community. But that's just one of many features you should expect if you want to add the best healthcare texting software. Learn about other these other essential features , all of which are included in the Dialog Health platform, then schedule a demo to see them firsthand!

We're fortunate to work with many amazing ambulatory surgery centers, also known as ASCs. These facilities are doing impressive work, providing exceptional outcomes to their patients, and creating attractive, welcoming environments for surgeons and staff. We couldn't be happier to see our ASC clients using the Dialog Health platform and collaborating with our team to leverage text messaging to its full potential, achieving improvements throughout and beyond the patient journey.    As we make our final preparations to exhibit at and attend the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) 2024 Conference & Expo in Orlando, we wanted to highlight 10 of the exceptional ways we're seeing our surgery centers use texting. Hopefully, this list inspires you to explore how you can further take advantage of the communication tool we believe should be the backbone of ASC communications or motivates you to reach out to us  or visit us at the ASCA meeting  (Booth #923) to learn more about what text messaging with Dialog Health can do for your center!   10 Text Messages ASCs Use for Successful Patient Communication 1. Initiate Patient Journey: Appointment Confirmations and Reminders Sending an initial text that confirms a patient's appointment is a great way to introduce patients to the idea of receiving texts from the ASC — with future texts coming from the same sender number — while also helping ensure patients have properly documented the date and time of their procedure. Our clients also use Dialog Health's two-way text messaging capability to offer a way for patients to reply to this confirmation text if they have questions or concerns about their appointments.  2. Compliance with Surgery Preparation Guidelines As the date of the surgery approaches, texts remind patients about what they need to do to maintain compliance with pre-procedure requirements that will enable their surgery to proceed as scheduled. Examples of topics covered in text messages include fasting, modifications to medication regimens, preoperative bathing, and securing transportation. For procedures with multiple preparation steps like a colonoscopy, our clients are setting up a series of texts that remind patients to acquire the bowel prep kit and when they should begin each step in the preparation process.   Texting is also used to remind patients about what they should bring with them for their procedure, including insurance information, photo identification, and a medication list. Two-way texting gives patients an easy way to contact our ASCs with questions or concerns about preparation compliance.   3. Boost Home Preparation for Safer Recovery For a good number of ASC procedures, including total joint replacement and other orthopedic surgeries, getting one's home ready for postoperative surgical recovery is essential to reducing the likelihood of falls or other adverse outcomes. Our surgery center clients use texts to remind their patients about key home preparation steps, including taping down corners of rugs, removing loose electronic cords, containing pets, acquiring and using a shower chair, and creating a living environment that eliminates the need to traverse stairs. With two-way texting, our ASCs are asking patients to confirm they have conducted this preparation, which adds another layer of accountability.   We've worked closely with ASCs that have total joint replacement programs to develop an extensive pre- and post-appointment text messaging campaign these centers can use to improve safety and outcomes while better-ensuring surgeries proceed as scheduled.   4. Minimize Appointment Cancellations and No-Shows A surgery that isn't performed is a surgery that can't be billed for and a patient who needs to wait longer for treatment. Our ASCs have found tremendous success with using texting to decrease their cancellation and no-show rates. Before the procedure, centers send text messages reminding patients about their scheduled surgery and including key details such as the ASC's address and time of arrival.    If a patient must miss their surgery, an ASC cannot assume they will pick up the phone and call. However, patients may feel more comfortable canceling via text, especially if prompted by a (two-way) text message asking patients to confirm their surgery or asking if patients have any concerns. A subsequent text is valuable in helping with rescheduling a canceled procedure. 5. Enhancing Revenue Cycle Operations for ASCs Our surgery centers have witnessed just how helpful texting is to their revenue cycle — i.e., bottom line — performance. Texts drastically reduce time spent by staff members on outbound insurance verification. ASCs send texts to patients letting them know a staff member needs to verify their insurance and benefits and then asks patients to call the surgery center, streamlining the verification process.    Text messaging is a highly effective way to initiate the pre-procedure collections process. Texts inform patients of their estimated payment and then direct them to ways they can pay, such as via portal (with the text providing a clickable hyperlink) or by calling the ASC to pay via credit card, with the text providing a direct phone number to the center's business office or the ASC billing partner tasked with collections.   Texts also help reduce accounts receivable (A/R). One ASC client of ours used texting to decrease its outstanding A/R by more than half in just six weeks. Employees sent direct texts to patients that included a link to the ASC's payment portal and a phone number patients could call if they wanted to pay over the phone or had questions about their bill or payment options.   6. Enhance Engagement with Caregivers through Improved Communication Once a patient is brought from an ASC's waiting room into the preoperative area, the waiting begins for loved ones and caretakers who accompany the patient to the center. Our surgery centers are using texting to share real-time patient progress updates. Text messaging is also being used to inform loved ones, caretakers, and transportation providers when patients are ready for discharge and to share any special instructions on where drivers should go to pick up their patients.  7. Boost Google Ratings and Satisfaction Survey Responses Some of our ASCs are leaning heavily on text messaging to improve their online reputation. Better online ratings can help an ASC with a medical tourism program and/or cash-pay option to attract patients. A stronger online presence can also help with physician and staff recruitment. Texts can steer patients with positive experiences to rate and comment about their experience on platforms like Google and Facebook.   8. Increase Appointment Rates with Improved Recall Programs For ASCs with recall opportunities, such as those centers that perform colonoscopies or deliver ongoing pain management treatments, texting simplifies re-engaging with patients when it's time to make another appointment. Texting enables our ASCs to pre-schedule messages to go out to patients reminding them to schedule their next visit. Since these procedures follow a predetermined schedule, ASCs can use their texting system to automate that reminder message and more efficiently get patients onto the schedule.  9. Leveraging Texting for Staff Recruitment Optimization Given our focus on healthcare, we are acutely aware of the staffing challenges facing our clients. And we've worked closely with clients, including our ASCs, on how they can use the Dialog Health platform to help with recruitment. Our surgery centers are leveraging texting to check numerous recruitment effort boxes, including keeping current staff informed about job openings so they can help build awareness, informing past applicants and former team members about openings, and promoting participation in job fairs.    Texts are also being used to communicate with prospective employees about the interview process and to follow up with applicants to see if they have any remaining questions or need additional information about an opening. Recruitment efforts that effectively engage with applicants can help increase the likelihood that applicants will think positively about their experience with an ASC.   10. Strengthen Employee Engagement for Improved Staff Retention Our clients are often surprised about the many ways text messaging can be used to build staff loyalty and improve staff retention. Texting campaigns can help deliver a great onboarding experience, such as by sending a welcome message, providing links to onboarding materials, identifying training dates, sharing resources, and informing new personnel of deadlines.     Texts can help strengthen ASC culture by informing and reminding personnel about staff appreciation events, milestones (e.g., successful accreditation or certification), celebrations (e.g., birthdays, work anniversaries, birth of a child), volunteering opportunities, professional development and continuing education opportunities, and holidays.    Text campaigns are highly effective at driving engagement with ASC-sponsored health and wellness initiatives. Texts can be periodically sent to staff reminding them about available benefits and sharing links where to learn more about their benefits. Encouraging staff to use available benefits can contribute to wellness and satisfaction while also improving productivity and culture.   Finally, we're seeing ASC human resources leaders/departments text uplifting words to staff — everything from "thank yous" for hard work during a period, to motivational quotes, to uplifting messages, to words of encouragement. Gestures like these remind staff how much they are valued and provide an ASC with another way of showing appreciation for their personnel.   Text Messaging: Transforming ASC Clinical, Financial, and Operational Performance  Text messaging is a proven method for ambulatory surgery centers to better engage with their patients, enhance outcomes, improve staff productivity, and enhance workflows, among numerous other benefits. As texting has become the preferred communication method, ASCs should evaluate how they can incorporate two-way text messaging as a communication platform or further expand its existing use.    Texting also plays a key role in helping our ASCs avoid potential breakdowns in communication throughout a patient journey that result in canceled appointments, lost revenue, and increased expenses, among other problems. Adding a single platform with multiple text messaging solutions like Dialog Health helps reduce and often eliminate these shortfalls, delivering efficiencies that contribute to short- and long-term ASC success. The Dialog Health platform includes AnalyticsPRO, which offers comprehensive insights into the text message history. AnalyticsPRO provides users with real-time, actionable insights, enabling them to make better informed and decisive communication choices.    We are here to help. Surgery centers — or any other type of healthcare provider — interested in adding or expanding text messaging should schedule a demo of Dialog Health , text or call (877) 666-1132, or email  info@dialoghealth.com . ASCs attending the ASCA 2024 Conference & Expo in Orlando can visit Booth #923 to learn more about Dialog Health and speak with our team about how we can work together to maximize the benefits of texting.

Key Takeaways Enhanced Patient Care : RPM with HIPAA-compliant texting platforms like Dialog Health improves patient outcomes through secure, real-time communication, leading to greater patient engagement . Automated Messaging & Workflows : Providers can send text messages to ensure adherence to monitoring schedules and reduce manual intervention with ongoing reminders, alerts, and follow-ups. Two-Way Text Messaging & Real-Time Analytics : Facilitates immediate interaction and provides insights into patient data, allowing healthcare professionals to measure trends and manage care proactively. Custom Web Forms & Multi-Language Support : Streamlines data collection by enabling patients to submit detailed information and enhances communication by accommodating patients' preferred languages. Secure Architecture : Protects patient information, maintaining trust and meeting regulatory requirements. Strategic Use of Text Messaging : Drives RPM success by confirming eligibility, distributing onboarding materials, providing shipment updates, acknowledging usage, recognizing milestones, notifying patients who may be non-compliant, sending clinical alerts, offering feedback, supporting telehealth, and enhancing revenue through efficient care management. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has revolutionized patient care by offering a proactive approach beyond traditional settings. One key method is using HIPAA-compliant texting platforms like Dialog Health, which help patients achieve better outcomes through secure, real-time communication. Text messaging as a communication channel allows physicians to manage appointments, monitor health remotely, and respond to emergencies promptly, boosting patient satisfaction. This article explores how Dialog Health's texting platform enhances efficiency and engagement in RPM programs. 7 Key Features Enhancing Remote Patient Monitoring 1. Automated Messaging Automated messaging is a cornerstone of efficient RPM programs. By sending scheduled reminders and updates, healthcare providers can ensure patients adhere to their monitoring schedules, such as taking daily measurements of blood pressure or glucose levels. This consistency is crucial for accurate data collection and timely interventions.   Example : A patient receives daily reminders to log their blood pressure readings, ensuring they remain consistent in their monitoring efforts.  Learn more about Automated Messaging   2. Two-Way Conversational Texting Two-way texting facilitates real-time interaction between patients and healthcare providers. This feature allows for immediate responses to patient queries, ensuring that concerns are addressed promptly and accurately. It also enables providers to send personalized feedback based on patient data.   Example : A diabetic patient texts their glucose reading and receives instant advice from their healthcare provider on adjusting their diet or medication.  Explore Two-Way Conversational Texting   3. Real-Time Analytics Real-time analytics provide healthcare providers with immediate insights into patient data, enabling proactive management of potential health issues. By analyzing trends and patterns, providers can make informed decisions and adjust care plans as needed.   Example : A sudden increase in a patient's heart rate triggers an alert, prompting the provider to intervene before the condition worsens.  Discover Real-Time Analytics   4. Custom Web Forms Custom web forms integrated with text messaging allow patients to submit detailed information about their health status. These forms can be tailored to gather specific data relevant to the patient's condition, streamlining the information collection process.   Example : Patients complete a weekly health survey via a text link, providing comprehensive updates on their symptoms and medication adherence.  Check out Custom Web Forms   5. Automated Workflows Automated workflows streamline the management of RPM programs by reducing the need for manual intervention. These workflows can trigger alerts, schedule follow-ups, and send personalized messages based on predefined criteria.   Example : An automated workflow sends a follow-up message to a patient if their weekly health survey indicates non-compliance with their medication regimen.  Explore Automated Workflows   6. Multi-Language Support Multi-language support ensures that language barriers do not hinder effective communication. By providing messages in patients' preferred languages, healthcare providers can enhance understanding and engagement.   Example : A Spanish-speaking patient receives all their RPM reminders and educational materials in Spanish, improving comprehension and adherence.  Learn about Multi-Language Support   7. Secure and Reliable Architecture The HIPAA-compliant architecture of Dialog Health's platform ensures that all patient information is securely transmitted and stored. This security is paramount in maintaining patient trust and meeting regulatory requirements.   Example : Patients can confidently share sensitive health information knowing it is protected from unauthorized access.  Read about Secure and Reliable Architecture   Case Study: RPM Success with Text Messaging Remote patient monitoring, also known as remote physiologic monitoring, has seen significant growth, particularly fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projections estimate nearly 71 million U.S. RPM users by 2025, a figure supported by the widespread adoption by providers, patients, and payers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded reimbursement for RPM services, highlighting the increasing importance of these programs.   Achieving RPM Success with Text Messaging : Providers using HIPAA-compliant text messaging for RPM have reported numerous benefits, including improved data capture, patient self-management, communication, and care coordination. Here are 14 ways Dialog Health clients leverage text messaging to support and grow their RPM programs.   14 Strategies for Leveraging Text Messaging to Enhance Remote Patient Monitoring Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has been significantly improved through the strategic use of text messaging. Here are 14 ways healthcare providers can utilize text messaging to drive success in their RPM programs:   Eligibility Confirmation : Text messages notify patients of their eligibility for RPM, including links to resources and encouraging them to enroll. Onboarding Materials Distribution : After enrollment, patients receive text messages with digital copies of onboarding materials and instructional videos for device setup. Device Shipment Updates : Texts keep patients updated on the delivery status of their RPM devices and confirm receipt once delivered. Acknowledging Initial Usage : Providers send congratulatory texts to patients upon their first successful use of the RPM device, confirming data transmission. Milestone Recognition : Text messages recognize and celebrate patients' adherence to RPM protocols, such as completing the first month of monitoring. Non-Compliance Notifications : Reminder texts are sent to patients who are not consistently monitoring, offering support and encouraging compliance. Clinical Intervention Alerts : Alerts are sent when RPM data indicates the need for clinical intervention, informing patients of the necessary actions. Feedback and Advice : Patients receive texts with feedback and advice on managing their conditions based on their RPM data. Telehealth Support : Texts include links to telehealth platforms for virtual consultations, facilitating remote healthcare services. Billing and Payment Reminders : Patients receive reminders about their financial responsibilities, including links for online payment. Encouraging Reviews : Text messages prompt patients to leave online reviews, helping to enhance the provider's reputation. Collecting Testimonials : Providers use text messages to collect patient testimonials, which can be used in marketing efforts. Conducting Satisfaction Surveys : Texts facilitate satisfaction surveys , gathering feedback on the RPM experience to improve services. Caregiver Engagement : Updates and important information are sent to family members or caregivers who support the patient's RPM efforts.   By incorporating these strategies, healthcare providers can maximize the effectiveness of their RPM programs, ensuring better patient outcomes and enhanced engagement.    The advanced features of Dialog Health's texting platform play a crucial role in the success of remote patient monitoring programs. By enhancing communication, improving adherence, and enabling real-time data management, these features ensure that RPM programs deliver optimal outcomes for patients and providers alike.   Healthcare organizations planning to launch or expand RPM programs should consider Dialog Health's comprehensive texting solutions to enhance efficiency and engagement. To learn more about how Dialog Health can support your RPM initiatives,  schedule a demo today .

For maternal health providers, communication with patients is frequent. It's also of the utmost importance in ensuring positive pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal experiences. There is a lot that needs to go right and a lot that must not go wrong in the interest of delivering high-quality care and support that helps keep a mother and infant safe. Considering the frequency of communications and the substantial amount of different information that must be shared with pregnant women and new mothers, it's no surprise to see maternal health providers increasingly turning to text messaging. Texting is often a, if not the , preferred mode of communication and has many advantages over other types of healthcare communication methods. It is a highly efficient and effective way for maternal health providers to achieve their communication goals and keep patients on the path to successful childbirth and recovery. Two-way texting is even more useful, as it allows the recipient of a text to reply to a message. This can help further streamline communication and get patients the information they want or need. 11 Maternal Health Texts: Messages You Should Send A maternal health text messaging campaign can include numerous messages covering a wide variety of topics. Let's look at 11 of the best uses for maternal health texting 1. Appointment reminder and confirmation As Cleveland Clinic notes , prenatal visits typically begin in week 4 and continue until delivery, with the frequency of visits increasing as the pregnancy moves further along. A few days prior to each appointment, send a text reminding patients about their next appointment and what they should do if they need to reschedule (e.g., call a provided number). With two-way texting, you can ask patients to confirm that they intend to make the appointment by responding to the text (e.g., YES/NO). Appointment reminder and confirmation texts are also helpful for the many pregnancy screenings and tests that must or should occur. 2. Maternal health education Maternal health providers deliver extensive education to their pregnant patients both pre- and post-childbirth. You can send texts that remind patients about some of the most important education covered during appointments and provide links to resources like infographics and videos that further support or supplement in-person education. 3. Maternal health frequently asked questions Considering the wealth of information and education you will provide to your pregnant patients, it's typical for patients to have questions for you along their journey. Consider developing documents and/or videos sharing frequently asked questions and their answers that coincide with different periods of the pregnancy timeline. Then, automate the texting of links to these FAQs when a patient reaches each period in their journey. This is a proactive way to answer common questions before patients ask them while reducing the number of times patients may feel compelled to reach out to you. 4. Car seat reminder When the expected date of delivery gets closer, or if delivery is planned, such as for a cesarean section, text a reminder to the patient to bring a rear-facing car seat to help with discharge compliance. In this text, you can include a link to car seat safety resources. With a two-way text message, you can also ask if the patient has acquired a car seat or needs assistance doing so. 5. Delivery arrival time and directions For planned deliveries, send patients a text providing their arrival time, directions to follow upon arrival, and your address. A texted address will likely be hyperlinked, enabling the recipient to easily click it and load their preferred smartphone navigation app when it's time for them to make their way to your facility. 6. Child delivery safety compliance Planned deliveries also enable maternal health providers to send compliance-related texts on topics like applying chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipes to the abdominal area and fasting (NPO) rules. While these are topics you will likely go over during in-person appointments, well-timed reminder text messages can only help ensure compliance and reduce risk. 7. Pain level, incision infection, and other health concerns In the days following delivery, text messages are a great way to check in with a new mother and ask about subjects like pain level, signs of a post-cesarean infection or mastitis, or other health concerns. A two-way text about pain level can ask respondents to reply and rate their level, while a two-way message about possible infection can ask patients to respond with a "YES" or "NO" if they believe they see indicators. Based upon a mother's response, a maternal health provider can determine whether a follow-up discussion and health advice or treatment is warranted. 8. Infant feeding A few days following delivery is also a great time to send a text to check in on a topic like infant feeding. This message can help identify whether a provider should have concerns. A two-way text can enable a new parent to easily answer whether they have encountered any problems, which would trigger further outreach by the provider.   9. Postpartum depression CDC research  shows that about 1 in 8 women with a recent live birth experience symptoms of postpartum depression. The postpartum period is filled with many emotional changes, and while these changes can be expected, some can point to the need for a new mother to receive additional mental health support. Such changes can include having continuous feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, lack of interest in the baby, being overly worried about the baby, or lack of interest in things the parent used to enjoy. A two-way text message sent a few weeks following delivery asking whether the patient was experiencing any of these symptoms can help a maternal health provider determine whether their patient should receive further evaluation and possible treatment. 10. Experience survey and online reviews Maternal health providers can lean on texting to conduct an experience survey. A two-way text message can ask patients questions about their experience, or the text could provide a link to an online survey. Information gathered can help providers identify opportunities for improvement. Using texting to engage with patients about taking surveys is less intrusive than making a phone call, and given the unusual sleep patterns and lower energy that often follows childbirth, a text will often be preferred. In addition, for those new parents who identify in a survey that they had a positive experience, a subsequent text can ask them to provide an online review and include a link(s) to where they can provide their review (e.g., Google, Facebook). In a competitive market, a maternal health provider with a strong, positive online presence is likely to find itself at an advantage with attracting patients and staff. 11. Collections When it comes time for a maternal health provider to collect any outstanding balance from a patient, a well-worded and polite text can help initiate the process. The text can identify the manner in which the patient can pay for services and include a link to an online bill pay website, if you offer such a payment mechanism. Using text messaging to secure payment is already familiar to most people, since many other industries (e.g., cell phone carriers, credit card companies) already use texting for payment prompts. Improving Maternity Care Communications With Text Messaging At Dialog Health, we are seeing maternity care providers nationwide relying upon our two-way texting solutions and supporting analytics to execute text message campaigns that improve patient safety, outcomes, and organization performance through ongoing engagement, timely touches, education, and streamlined communications. To learn about our maternal health texting campaigns, including our series designed specifically for individuals undergoing cesarean sections, fill out this form , email info@dialoghealth.com , or call 877.666.1132.