Automate and Optimize Healthcare Appointment Outreach Using Twilio

July 22, 2021
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Appointment Management with EHR Integration Quick Deploy App.png

A new Quick Deploy app is now available for healthcare provider organizations! The app packs together the core components of a deployable prototype for automated, two-way appointment management with EHR integration. 

Deploy the app here.

This app is intended for prototyping and testing purposes only. Not for use in production environments!

 

One of the most critical elements of delivering high-quality healthcare is an efficient appointment reminder and management process. In the US alone, missed appointments cost the healthcare system $150B each year. Appointment outreach is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce no-shows, yet many available solutions for sending out these reminders are batched, delayed, and lack flexibility.

Twilio is focused on helping you find a solution that overcomes these challenges and best fits your needs! If your organization is exploring building an in-house solution, Twilio’s real-time Messaging API can be integrated with your Electronic Health Record (EHR) to send a wide range of customized patient notifications and to facilitate a bi-directional exchange of information.

If you are interested in building, Twilio makes this simple, even for those who are busy with multiple projects going on at the same time. The goal of Twilio’s Healthcare and Life Sciences team is to enable customers like you to launch the next generation of patient engagement solutions. We're here to help you get from ideation to outcome as smoothly as possible.

This is why we have created a new Quick Deploy app! This app packs together all the core components of a deployable prototype for basic, automated appointment outreach that can be integrated with your sandbox EHR environment.

This app aims to help healthcare provider organizations interested in the build-your-own approach by showing what is possible using Twilio and accelerating the path towards success by providing core building blocks and workflows. The application includes the necessary Twilio components and a cloud-based scheduling service (using Amazon Web Services), all pre-configured for the code-free deployment of a working prototype, ready to integrate directly with your sandbox EHR environment for demonstration of the possibilities.

(Note that the actual integration with your EHR is required for the app to work - see our EHR Integration Guide for details)

Once deployed and integrated with your EHR, the outcome is an automated text message exchange between the patient and the scheduling system that includes out-of-the-box messages for appointment management:

  • notifications to the patient highlighting an appointment booking, reminder, modification, rescheduling, no show status, or successful cancelation
  • response from the patient to the provider to request an appointment confirmation or cancelation

Patient and Provider communication flow for the app (scheduling notification, appointment reminder, cancelation request)

Looking for an out-of-box, fully-featured patient engagement platform? We also have partnerships with other healthcare technology customers that may be a better fit. Contact our Sales team if you’re interested in learning more about out-of-box solutions.

Customers with that are subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and intend to utilize Twilio’s products and services to develop communication workflows containing protected health information (PHI) must execute a Business Associate Addendum (BAA) to Twilio’s Terms of Service. Twilio considers HIPAA compliance as a shared responsibility between the customer and Twilio. To learn more about how to build a HIPAA compliant workflow using Twilio’s offerings, please refer to our guide on Architecting for HIPAA on Twilio.

This Quick Deploy App is not a generally available product and should not be fully deployed in a production environment. The Quick Deploy App (including all code and related documentation) is provided “AS IS.”  Twilio disclaims all express or implied warranties of any kind with respect to the Quick Deploy App, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Twilio shall have no liability or obligation to you or any other individual or entity for any damages of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or relating to the use of or inability to use the Quick Deploy App, including but not limited to any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages, even if Twilio has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Twilio has no obligation to support or maintain the Quick Deploy App. Use of the Quick Deploy App is subject to all of the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement.

Learn more about building a Healthcare appointment management solution

Curious to explore the application more closely? Head over to our CodeExchange page to get hands on! You can also check out the application’s Reference Architecture, Implementation Guide, and EHR Integration Guide for more detailed information.

If you prefer to have a conversation about the application or how Twilio can support your goals, the Twilio Sales team would love to hear from you!

Contact Us

If you’re looking to test out an in-house appointment management solution where you can stand up a working prototype within your organization in minutes, this is where to start. Our hope is that you can leverage this application to accelerate your own prototype design and development for a speedy and successful outcome.

We would love to hear from you so we can ensure we’re making strides towards helping you succeed! If you’re interested in sharing your experience or thoughts around the application, contact the HLS Product team.


Brought to you with <3 from the Twilio Healthcare and Life Sciences team


Katie Kippenbrock is a Staff Product Manager on Twilio's Healthcare and Life Sciences team. Her goal is to leverage knowledge gained from professional experiences in public health, data analytics and software development to help improve our healthcare systems through technology, for the benefit of both patients and healthcare professionals. She can be reached at kkippenbrock [at] twilio.com.