Overview

Create the text message (SMS) that patients receive as an appointment reminder. This template is the message content only — it gives your SMS reminder settings something to send, but does not place a reminder on the Communication Timeline.

Before you begin

• Access to Config > Reminders > Message Templates.

Steps

1. Go to Config > Reminders >Message Templates.
2. Click Add New Message Template. If your team uses the Required Templates section, you can also click Configure for Appointment Reminders and choose the SMS template option there.
3. In What is this message for?, select Appointment Reminders.
4. In Template Type, select SMS.
5. In Description, enter an internal name your team will recognize. Example: Standard Appointment Reminder Text.
6. In Contents, write the text message you want patients to receive. Keep it short and clear so it's easy to read on a phone.
7. Add smart fields by typing @ in the message. Common examples:
   • @(patient-firstname)
   • @(appointment-date)
   • @(appointment-time)
   • @(appointment-resource)
   • @(confirmation-link)
8. Watch the SMS segment indicator under the message. This shows whether the text is getting too long and may be split into multiple segments.
9. If you have multiple languages enabled, be sure to click the Add Translation button and then Generate All. This will ensure patients are receiving reminders in their preferred language if set in the EHR. 
10. To make this the main SMS reminder the system uses, turn on Use this template as the default reminder message. This sets it as the default SMS reminder template for appointment reminders.
11. Review the message for clarity. A good reminder text usually includes the patient's name, the appointment date and time, the provider or resource name, and a simple next step (confirming or preparing for the visit).
12. Click Save.
13. Confirm the template appears in All Templates. If it was marked as the default, it should also display the Default tag. 

Troubleshooting

• If you created the template but no reminders are sending, then remember the template is only the message content. You still need a reminder configured on the Communication Timeline to actually send it.