ClinicOffice SMS Text Messages

We’ve been partnering with a number of SMS Text Message providers for many years now, which has given us the expertise and platform to build our own SMS messaging system.

This means that you can configure ClinicOffice to automatically send out text messages en-masse (such as appointment reminders or patient recalls), as well as having the ability to send text messages manually on an ad-hoc basis… and all of this is available at very competitive prices!

Q. Do you send messages via "grey" routes?

No! We only use direct connect routes (also known as ‘white routes’), which means SMS messages sent from ClinicOffice will be sent through mainstream UK mobile networks.

Q. I’m not in the UK - can I still send text messages?

Yes – our SMS system covers by far the majority of countries where we have customers. However, please note that depending on your country, the cost per message might be slightly higher or lower than when sending messages to the UK. Please see the pricing section further down this page for more information.

What are the benefits of using SMS Text Messages?

Reduce DNAs – Studies show a 30% decrease in “Did Not Attend” (DNA) occurrences when an SMS reminder system is in place to remind clients of their appointments (source articles here and here)
Improved Patient Communication – Patients can reply to SMS messages to let you know if they cannot attend and they can reschedule another time.
Increased Efficiency – Combined with the Waiting List feature, when you know a patient can’t make it, someone else on the Waiting List may be able to take their slot, increasing your clinic’s efficiency.
Reduced Admin – Because the SMS reminders can be automated, you and your staff don’t need to spend time manually texting, emailing or posting reminders.
Patients Like It! – Perhaps the greatest reason to use this feature is that in today’s “connected” world, your patients probably want and expect to receive SMS reminders about their appointments!

Q. Are there any other uses for SMS Text Messages?

– Patient recall reminders (e.g. prompt a patient to return 6 months after an appointment)
– Contacting inactive patients (e.g. text patients who have not been in for >2 years with a special offer)
– Send out ‘loyalty bonuses’ (e.g. send a special offer to a patient after their 50th appointment)
ClinicOffice can easily cater for any of the above scenarios – and many more!

What does it cost?

SMS Text Messaging is offered as a STANDARD feature of ClinicOffice, so no additional module is necessary and there is no setup fee. The only cost is to pay for the actual messages themselves which you do by purchasing CREDIT PACKS where 1 credit = 1 UK SMS (160 characters).

Credit Pack	£ Pack Cost	£ Per Credit
250 Credits	£12.50	5p
500 Credits	£24.50	4.9p
1000 Credits	£47.50	4.75p
5000 Credits	£230.00	4.6p
10000 Credits	£450.00	4.5p

Prices exclude VAT and may be subject to change

Q. What about international SMS prices?

When sending messages to destinations outside the UK, a “credit multiplier” is applied which adjusts the “credit cost” per message.

For example, for Canada the multiplier is 0.7 making it significantly cheaper, whereas for The Netherlands the multiplier is 1.5 hence each message is more expensive. Ireland and most other EU countries have a 1.0 multiplier (hence the same as the UK).

If you intend to use our SMS service to send international messages, please contact us for more details BEFORE purchasing credits.

How do I get started?

If you’re already a ClinicOffice customer, you can purchase credits by logging in to the CLIENT PORTAL area on our website.

Once you have some credits on your account, you can send one-off messages directly to any mobile by clicking the SMS button next to any mobile number in ClinicOffice, or alternatively you can use the Patient Contact Centre to create some rules for sending out automated text messages, as described in the User Guide.

If you’re a member of the ClinicOffice Support Plan then you’re always welcome to give us a call so that we can show you how to do this, or alternatively you’ll find useful FAQs and articles and the ClinicOffice Support Forum website, where you can also post any questions/queries to receive completely FREE support.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about our SMS Text Messaging service or if you need any more information, please give our friendly sales team a call on 01205 205500 and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Click here for other ways to contact us.