Q&A: Sending appointment alerts to patients via text message

Q: We have recently begun to alert patients about appointments via text message. What are some things we should know about remaining HIPAA-compliant through this process?

A: Since text messages could be viewed by someone other than the patient, appointment alert messages should contain the minimum amount of information necessary. Here’s an example of an acceptable message:

"You have an appointment with Dr. Smith at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8. Please call 999-999-9999 with questions or to cancel."

The message should not contain the patient’s name or any health information.

Editor’s note: Question answered by Mary Brandt, a healthcare consultant specializing in healthcare regulatory compliance and operations improvement. This information does not constitute legal advice. Consult legal counsel for answers to specific privacy and security questions. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent HCPro or ACDIS. Email your HIPAA questions to Associate Editor Heidi Samuelson at hsamuelson@hcpro.com.