We do reminder calls manually. Just started a trial of a company which uses the Medware schedule. It is unbelievably awesome. The things you can do with it are unbelievable. You can set it to text, call or email. Currently, we are just doing text. We now do text messages automatically two days prior and do reminder calls the day before. When the person gets the text (and it tells you if they received it), they can click on Y or Yes to confirmed or N or No to cancel. So far if we have 20 appointments, the breakdown is roughly:
18 received the text
2 had a landline
7 will click on yes
1 will cancel
8 will receive the text but do nothing
The following day (the day before), we call the two with the landlines (confirm) and try to get a cell phone number, skip the 7 who click on yes and use the yellow phone icon to show confirmed, call the cancellation to try to reschedule, call the 8 who received the text but did nothing.
My theory is that those who click yes are more likely to show than those who say yes on a phone call. Some people who have no intent on showing may not want the hassle of being questioned as to why or if they want to reschedule. A yes on a text message is likely to be 100% valid.
You can set custom messages if you want to let everyone know that you are closed due to a storm, etc.
If you use auto telephone reminders, they can click on a link to call back and confirm or change the appointment. You know if they receive it. You know if it went to VM.
We definitely don't do emails, but you can. Or you can do all three or four if you count manual calls, but this would be overkill.
My sense is it will stop three no shows per week minimum or 12 per month minimum.
