Learn more about how the healthcare industry is relying on SMS texting during the pandemic!

After a year of living in a global pandemic, COVID-19 has forced the entire world to shift the way we operate. We have seen entire industries either being completely overwhelmed or disappearing, adapting to these sudden new changes. The way we communicate has changed, and we desperately need a safe way of contacting one another. SMS technology has been the perfect solution to help solve these communication barriers, while streamlining information to help navigate the global pandemic. 

How effective and reliable is SMS texting for the healthcare industry? Everyone has access to a smartphone today in the modern age, and people more than ever are using it for everything that they do. This also includes the elderly, which are a demographic of concern for healthcare workers. The elderly are utilizing SMS texting in order to gain information and to contact their healthcare providers. This is great and relieving news, especially because they are the population that are most at risk.

Use Cases

With the effectiveness proven, check out some of these use cases that your healthcare company can take advantage of today in order to help save lives. 

• Managing Cancellations: Patients have been cancelling non essential visits in order to avoid hospitals who have had contact with COVID-19 patients. Communication is critical in order to let scheduling run smoothly. There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with a backed up or messy schedule amid all of the existing craziness. 

• Scheduling new Telehealth Visits: The rise of telehealth visitations and checkups have been so helpful in avoiding non necessary health visits. Use SMS texting in order to help schedule times more efficiently, while sending patients reminders about their impending checkup.

• Conducting COVID-19 Screenings: After a year of living in this pandemic, many people have been exposed to a questionnaire or health screening at some time before entering a public space. Save time by completing the form via text that healthcare providers can pre-send. 

• Promoting social distancing: Whenever possible, it is crucial that industries and people alike are promoting social distancing whenever they can. Sending SMS appointment reminders about COVID-19 protocols such as wearing a mask, washing your hands, and other safety measures can help save lives. 
• Communicating with Quarantined Patients: Finally, SMS texting can help solve one of the biggest problems healthcare industries are facing: safely communicating with quarantine patients. Sometimes results and responses can take so long through email and calls because of the considerable amount of people getting tested. By utilizing SMS Texting, companies can choose to send instructions post quarantine, strategies of prevention moving forward, and feedback of symptoms. 
  
  

We highly encourage healthcare providers to start switching to SMS texting today in order to help organize the rapid influx of new patients and save lives. Of course, HIPAA regulation must be taken into consideration, and we strongly urge any healthcare provider looking to use texting to consult a lawyer to ensure they are compliant. Trumpia also offer compliance advice if needed.

We are grateful for all of the hard work that health care workers provide by being on the front lines. Let us help you battle this pandemic together. 

For more information, check out our other blogs in order to learn more about different use cases.