Dentaltown January 2017 - 34

practice management
message board

Best Way to Text Patients
What's the best way to keep in touch with patients in the digital age?
Dentaltown.com > Message Boards > Practice Management > Front Office Discussion > Best Way to Text Patients

LukeJordanDDS
Member Since: 08/20/14
Post: 1 of 36

I just bought a dental practice in south Louisiana. The previous dentist had our girls very good
about confirming patients. One complaint they came to me with was that they would sometimes
have to text patients with their personal cell phones to confirm appointments and such. I see this
as very unprofessional and inappropriate. What is an effective way to make texting available when
the front office needs to but with a number that is not their personal line? Thanks. ■

8/18/2016

Dave at the Dentist
Member Since: 04/09/13
Post: 2 of 36

Zipwhip seems like a popular option. It attaches to your existing phone number. Search for
it on the forums for more info.
I just got a Google Voice number and use that from the computer to confirm patients. It's
free and easy to use since I already use Google Apps for work for our email service. However,
the number won't be the same number as your office, but I find that hasn't been a problem since
most people don't remember phone numbers anymore. ■

8/18/2016

wolverinedds
Member Since: 07/14/03
Post: 3 of 36

We started with Google Voice but found it was a problem because people didn't recognize
the number so didn't respond. Once we switched to Zipwhip, it was much better. I think it
definitely helps that it is your practice phone number. ■

8/18/2016

Dave at the Dentist
Member Since: 04/09/13
Post: 4 of 36

Bry
Member Since: 10/15/03
Posts: 5 and 6 of 36

We always start the text message saying, "Hi XXX, this is XXX Dental." This way right off
the bat they know it's the dentist. ■

8/18/2016

Using OperaDDS you can two-way text from any computer or mobile phone through our recall
call feature, Recare. What is unique about this is that your texts live in the same platform as your
secure email with patients and colleagues, secure texts with staff, traditional emails with patients
and online case prescriptions. So, all your communication is aggregated in one easy to access place.
This is a good idea, as the only things you should be texting patients (if it is not secure, and
I don't think Zipwhip is [correct me if I'm wrong...]) is recall messages. All ePHI should be sent
securely, and traditional texting is not secure. OperaDDS' feature Pager does include secure
texting, which at this point, is designed for use with staff and colleagues (non-patient). ■

8/18/2016

Sandy Pardue
Member Since: 08/21/02
Post: 7 of 36

I have the perfect solution. A hot new way to get it done is with Rhinogram. Call them
and ask for a demo. Very impressive and it is not competing with Lighthouse etc. It solves the
personal cell phone issue and is HIPAA compliant. ■

8/18/2016

Kevin Tighe
Member Since: 12/27/10
Post: 9 of 36

Check into Lighthouse 360 or Solutionreach. Also, Opera is getting good word-of-mouth.
Note: Whatever service you use, don't be rote in how you set up your confirmation protocol
as patients differ greatly on what they need and want in regards to confirmation. ■

8/18/2016

Continued on p.36

JANUARY 2017 // dentaltown.com

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