When you need to reach the widest audience in the simplest way, there is no reason to recreate the wheel.
Often the simplest solution is the best one. As medical facilities turn to technology for improved communication and patient engagement, they are choosing the most affordable, accessible, and simple tool available today: texting.
Accessible
Texting reaches the highest number of patients regardless of age and demographic. According to Pew, 92% of adults in the U.S. own a cellphone and 70% own a smartphone. Since all phones, even very basic models, are capable of sending and receiving texts, text messaging presents the most readily available option. In fact, over 70% of the population texts regularly and this rate is growing quickest among 45 – 64 year olds. When you need to reach the widest audience in the simplest way, there is no reason to recreate the wheel. More Americans choose and prefer texting to other methods of communication and are already using it on a daily basis.
Affordable
In simplifying and streamlining communications with patients, texting represents a huge savings of time and money. Timely and informative texts result in better informed and prepared patients and fewer cancellations and delays. Additionally, considerable nursing time is saved in reducing time-consuming phone calls and voice mails. The cost of implementing a texting platform is also quite reasonable, especially compared to developing a mobile application. Since texting platforms don’t have to be adjusted for multiple platforms and very little marketing and communication costs are needed to educate patients on its use, the texting option becomes a very affordable one.
Efficient
If you could reach out to 10 patients in the same time you could reach 1, you would. If you could spend 5 minutes instead of 30, you would. If you could ensure your message was received and read within 3 minutes instead of ignored or missed, you would. We are all looking for faster and better ways of doing more. Texting gives us that leg up – it gives medical facilities the efficient tool they need to keep up with today’s rapid exchange of information and today’s expectant consumer. A well-timed text message can clarify instructions, prompt a needed action, share electronic data, or ease uncertainties.
It isn’t often a solution as simple and effective as text messaging presents itself to a problem as big as improving communication and increasing patient engagement within a restricted budget. But, there it is. An obvious solution for what could be a complicated challenge. Text messaging reaches more patients, more affordably, more effectively.
