Patient Appointment Reminders
That Actually Get Read
Reduce no-shows by 25% with personalized text reminders. HIPAA-friendly, sent from your phone number, and takes 30 seconds to send to your entire patient list.
HIPAA & Text Messaging: What You Need to Know
Good news: Appointment reminders are generally HIPAA-compliant when done correctly.
✅ The Key Rule
Don't include Protected Health Information (PHI) in your texts. Keep it simple: date, time, location, and a general reminder. That's it.
✅ OK to Send
- •"Reminder: You have an appointment tomorrow at 2pm"
- •"Your appointment is confirmed for Monday at 10am"
- •"Please reply YES to confirm your visit on Friday"
- •"Time for your 6-month checkup! Call us to schedule"
- •Office hours, location, parking instructions
❌ Don't Include
- •Diagnoses or health conditions
- •Treatment details or procedures
- •Medications or prescriptions
- •Test results or lab work
- •Reason for visit or appointment type
📝 Patient Consent Required
Before texting patients, obtain their consent (verbal or written). Include text messaging authorization in your intake forms. Patients should be able to opt out at any time.
💡 Why Hit Em Up Works for Healthcare
- • Messages sent from your personal phone number (not a marketing platform)
- • You control exactly what's in each message
- • No data stored on third-party servers
- • Patients reply directly to you as a normal conversation
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a healthcare compliance attorney for your specific situation. HIPAA regulations may vary by state and practice type.
📊 Healthcare No-Show Calculator
See how much no-shows cost your practice annually
Dentists, Orthodontists, Oral Surgeons
💸 No-Shows Cost Your Practice
$57,600
per year in lost revenue
15% no-show rate × $200/visit × 1920 annual visits
✅ With Text Reminders, Recover
$14,400
per year (25% fewer no-shows)*
Reduce no-show rate from 15% → 11.3%
* Based on peer-reviewed research showing 25% reduction in no-shows with text reminders.¹
¹ Research-Backed Results
"Patients who received a text message reminder had a 25% improvement in showing up to appointments compared with the control group."
Liu et al., Journal of the American College of Radiology, 2017
HIPAA-Friendly Examples
Simple reminders that keep patients informed without revealing PHI
Jennifer
iMessage
For Every Healthcare Provider
From dental offices to therapy practices to wellness centers
Dentists
Cleaning reminders
Orthodontists
Adjustment appointments
Oral Surgeons
Pre-op instructions
Chiropractors
Adjustment reminders
Physical Therapists
Session reminders
Massage Therapists
Booking confirmations
Therapists
Session reminders
Counselors
Appointment confirmations
Psychologists
Gentle reminders
Med Spas
Treatment reminders
Dermatologists
Follow-up appointments
Optometrists
Annual exam recalls
Veterinarians
Pet checkup reminders
Acupuncturists
Session confirmations
Wellness Coaches
Check-in reminders
Private Practices
General reminders
6 Ways to Use Patient Texting
All HIPAA-friendly when done correctly
Appointment Reminders
Send day-before and same-day reminders. 98% of texts are read vs 20% of emails.
"Reminder: You have an appointment tomorrow at 2pm. See you then!"
Confirmation Requests
Ask patients to confirm and reduce no-shows by catching cancellations early.
"Your appointment is Thursday at 10am. Reply YES to confirm or call to reschedule."
Recall Reminders
Bring patients back for regular checkups. Don't let them forget their 6-month cleaning!
"Hi! It's time for your 6-month checkup. Call us at (555) 123-4567 to schedule."
Thank You Follow-Ups
Build loyalty with a personal touch after visits. Patients remember who cares.
"Thanks for coming in today! Let us know if you have any questions."
Pre-Visit Instructions
Send general reminders about fasting, parking, or what to bring. No clinical details.
"Quick reminder: Please arrive 10 mins early and bring your insurance card."
Office Updates
Notify patients of schedule changes, holiday hours, or office moves.
"FYI: We'll be closed Dec 24-26. Happy Holidays from all of us!"
Important: This is NOT for Marketing
Hit Em Up is designed for personal communication with existing patients—not marketing campaigns, promotional offers, or cold outreach.
Learn more about responsible messaging in our P2P Compliance Training and Spam Filter Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
HIPAA, compliance, and best practices
Ready to Reduce No-Shows?
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