Sending Blast Messages

Location: Menu

This function lets you send messages to multiple patients and/or contacts by email, patient portal, telephone, or text message.

Send Message

1.Click MENU > Blast.

2.Select the method to deliver your message (Email, Patient Portal, Telephone, or Text). Note: telephone messages are sent to both the home phone and cell phone.

3.Respect patients' communication method - Choosing No, sends a message to the selected patients regardless of their preferred communication method (defined in the Address Book or Patient Portal). Selecting Yes, only sends the message to patients when their preference matches the method you're using. Note: this field is relevant only if the Reminders product is also implemented.

4.Send To - Select one of the pre-defined recipient lists or one that your practice has created.  Lists are created in Blast Configuration.

5.Set to Repeat - This option lets you schedule the message to be sent repeatedly on a daily (select lists), weekly, or monthly basis. The repeat message will be sent at 9:00 am on the same day of the week/month as the initial Blast message. When using this feature the Filter by Appointment option is not available. To see a list of the scheduled messages and optionally stop them from repeating, go to Admin > Blast Configuration > Schedules.

6.Subject - Enter a Subject.

7.Filter by Appointment - (Optional) If you use appointment scheduling or appointment reminders in this application, you can optionally use this field to select patients based on appointment information:

•Appointment Date From

•Appointment Date To

•Practice Calendars - Select All Calendars or a specific calendar.

•Appointment Type - Select All Appt Types or a specific appointment type (e.g. annual exam).

8.Message Template - (Optional) Use this field to select a pre-defined template for the message text.

9.Message - If you selected a Message Template, the text will automatically display and you can further customize as needed. If you didn't select a template, enter your message text. To personalize the message, use the available variables. If you're sending an Email message, you can use the text editing tools to format the text. The message length can be up 140 characters (Pharmacy Connect up to 280 characters).

10.Click Send.

11.A notification displays asking for confirmation that the Blast messages complies with HIPAA (i.e. does not contain protected healthcare information; it's OK if you're sending to the Patient Portal) and the Federal Communication Commission Telephone Consumer Protection Act (no robotic calls or texts that are considered telemarketing).

Pre-Defined Message Lists

The following message lists are pre-defined and automatically updated as information changes:

•All Contacts *

•All Females *

•All Males *

•All Patients *

•Today's Birthdays *

•This Week's Birthdays

•This Month's Birthdays

If your practice uses this application for Scheduling or Appointment Reminders, these lists are also available:

•Today's Appointments

•Tomorrow's Appointments

•Next 7 Days' Appointments

•Next 30 Days' Appointments

•Yesterday's Appointments *

•Last 7 Days' Appointments

•Last 30 Days' Appointments

* Indicates the list can be sent daily as well as weekly or monthly.

Variables

[fullname] - The patient's first and last name (not available on text messages)

[firstname] - The patient's first name

[lastname] - The patient's last name (not available on text messages)

[practicename] - The name of the practice

[practicephone] - The practice telephone number

Text Editing Tools