OpenVPMS can send SMS reminders for upcoming appointments, automatically or manually.
To do this:
1. The Practice must have a Mail Server configured
The SMS gateways supported by OpenVPMS use email, so a Mail Server must be configured on the Practice.
2. The Practice must have SMS configured
3. An Appointment Reminder SMS Template must be configured
Reminder templates can be linked to the Practice and/or Practice Location. If a template is linked to a Practice Location, it will be used in preference to any linked to the Practice.
4. Schedules must be configured to send appointment reminders
This is done be selecting the Send Appointment Reminders flags for each Schedule that may send appointment reminders
5. Appointment Types must be configured to send appointment reminders
This is done be selecting the Send Appointment Reminders flags for each Appointment Type that may send appointment reminders
6. Customers must be able to receive SMS messages
This is done by selecting Allow SMS on their phone contact. If the customer has multiple phone contacts with Allow SMS set, then the preferred one will be used, and if none are preferred, then the first one created.
7. The Appointment Reminder Sender can be configured
This is required to send reminders automatically.
If you do not configure this (or create the sender job, but deactivate it) then appointment reminders will not be sent automatically, but can still be sent manually via the Remind button in Workflow - Scheduling. Doing things this way allows you the convenience of automatically generating the SMS text, but because the text is generated and then displayed, and allows you to personalise the reminder if required. The date and time of sending the reminder will also be recorded against the appointment.
8. The Appointment itself must have its 'Send Reminder' box ticked
This will be automatically ticked for new appointments provided that the previous conditions are satisfied. However, if you have appointments created before the Appointment Reminders system was activated, then in order to enable the automatic sending of reminders for these, you will have to edit each appointment to tick the 'Send Reminder' box.