Sending a One-Way Text Message
- Click on the Direct Messages tab on the navigation bar then select Text Message Chat. Remember that you can also send a direct message from the Retention Calendar by clicking on the mobile phone () or email icon () to the left of the client name.
- Search for the client within the search bar to populate that client's mobile phone information or email address. (Note: For a text, if there is no number in the mobile phone field, the number in the home field will auto-populate.)
- If needed, you can override the mobile phone number with a different texting number.
- Select a Patient from the drop-down if needed. If no patient name is selected and the patient name variable is used in the direct message, you will receive an error message. While sending a text to clients with over one hundred patients, you will see a Select a Patient button instead of a dropdown option. When clicked, it will bring up a screen to select which patient you would like to send your communication to. Clicking ‘select’ will select the patient to link the communication to and pull their name into the appropriate variables.
- Select a Template from the drop-down, or you can free-hand type within the body of the message.
- Variables can be used from the “Insert Variable” drop-down to include a patient or client name in the text message.
- Images or videos can be attached from your phone or computer as well.
- Click “Preview Message” to see what it looks like before sending.
- Click “Send Text” to message the client.
- To view all direct text messages sent in the last 4 weeks, click the “Sent” tab.
*If a client responds to a one-way text message, you will receive an email to your general hospital account with the contents of that text message.