Technology | 04.15.21
COVID-19 and the Rise of Texting in Healthcare
by Medical Economics
During the pandemic, the way many doctors have conversed with their patients has migrated from phone calls to texting. A recent survey of patients' communication preferences both before and during the crisis found that interest in phone calls had decreased 14 percent in just a few months. Healthcare providers soon realized they already had the solution to their COVID-19 communication ills -- text messaging -- at their disposal. Texting offers a range of advantages over phone calls. On average, where it takes four seconds to send a text message, a similar phone call can last a minimum of two minutes or longer. Along the same lines, studies show the response rate for texts is 209 percent higher than it is for phone calls. Additionally, most text messages are read within 15 minutes. By automating scheduling tasks like text appointment reminders and patient education messages, providers have been connecting more effectively with patients while simultaneously increasing confirmations and decreasing no-shows.
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