The Role of SMS Gateways in the Medical Profession

SMS gateways can be used by medical professionals to ensure the optimal health of their patients. This could help keep patients healthy and loyal.

Imagine being able to reach out to your patients whenever you need to to ensure that they take their medication or just to provide them with a word of encouragement. For many patients around the world this could be an invaluable service, and help them with the motivation they need to get better in no time at all. As someone who needs to keep an eye on the progress of your patients, how can the use of SMS gateways benefit you?

“Wait! What are SMS gateways?”

Ever sent an SMS message from the internet? If you haven’t, then take a look at the web-to-SMS application, Communicator. As with the Communicator, most other types of software and hardware that are SMS-capable send messages in a certain format. Your message needs to be translated into the appropriate format so that it can be sent on to the appropriate destination network, and on to the destination handset. SMS gateways form an integral part of everyday messaging, and enable businesses around the world to get in touch with their clients.

“So where does Health care come in?”

The benefit of SMS to health care is that it allows for communication using a medium common to all mobile phones. This communication, when used in the shape and form of an SMS gateway, like the Communicator above, can help to greatly improve patient care. This can be done by:

• Sending appointment reminders “Mr. Smith, friendly reminder of your appointment on 14Jan @ 9AM”
• Sending medication reminders “Mr. Smith, lunch is coming up, time to take your medication as indicated”
• Checking up on patients “Mrs. Smith, experiencing any chest pains? Reply to this SMS or give me a call”
• Motivating patients “Mr. Bell! The weather’s good and no better time to take the dog for a morning walk!”
• Tips for staying healthy “Mrs. Johnson, remember that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Eat more fruit & feel better!”
• Sending out account payment reminders “Dear Mr. Ecklestone, please remember to settle the costs for your medication. Outstanding amount: GBP 15.50″
• etc.

The great benefit is that this adds a value-added dimension to the medical profession. This means that patients will get more bang for their buck, and appreciate the efforts invested toward their well-being, thereby staying with their caring GP for longer. And, lest we forget, when SMS gateways are employed to relay SMS messages, it has the potential to dramatically cut down on voice call costs.

What You can do with SMS Gateways

Features present in software that connect to SMS gateways to send your SMS messages are usually those that make life a bit easier by supplying you with greater control over who you want to message, when you want to message them and what message you want to send. These features include:

• Address book management
• List segmentation
• Delayed messaging
• Routing profiles (when there’s a messaging budget)
• Two-way messaging (Allowing patients to reply)
• International messaging (Getting in touch with patients wherever they are)
• and much, much more…

If you are in the medical profession, then this is the communications product to help you provide greater care while cutting down on costs. Find out more on the SMS gateways page.

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Tags: international SMS, SMS contact management, SMS gateway, SMS Gateways, two-way SMS, value-added communication, web to SMS