effect of integrating short messaging services' reminders with electronic medical records on non-attendance rates

ABSTRACT

To measure the effect of integrating short messaging service [SMS] reminders with an electronic medical record [EMR] system on non-attendance rates in outpatient clinics in a Saudi hospital. Pre- and post- observational studies were conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City and National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2010 and March 2010. Data collected from 16 out-patient clinics included the number of non-attended appointments at the clinics in a 3-month period [March-May] in 2 consecutive years pre-implementation of SMS appointment reminders in 2008 and post-implementation in 2009. The mean non-attendance rates for the 16 outpatient clinics during 2008 were 23.9% [SD 0.0578] and for 2009 were 19.8% [SD 0.0386] with a 4.1% [p<0.001, T-value = 4.81] reduction rate. Integrating SMS reminders with EMR systems showed a positive effect on the reduction of the non-attended appointments at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia