When should you send an appointment reminder text?

Most practices send one reminder 2 to 3 days before, which leaves time to fill the slot if the patient cancels, and a second one the day before or a few hours before the visit.

What should an appointment reminder text include?

The practice name, the day and time, the address for a first visit, and a simple way to confirm or reschedule, such as replying C or R. Leave out diagnoses, test results and other medical details.

Do you need permission to text patients?

Yes. Get the patient's consent to receive texts, often with a line on the intake form, and include a way to opt out, such as "Reply STOP to opt out". Check the rules that apply to your practice with your compliance advisor.

How long can an appointment reminder text be?

One text holds 160 standard characters, or 70 if it contains an emoji or certain special characters. Longer messages are sent as several parts, which costs more to send.

Appointment reminder text message templates

Free text templates for medical, dental and pediatric practices: confirmations, reminders, reschedules, no-show follow-ups, recalls and review requests. Copy one, replace the words in brackets, and send.

Tap or click a template to select all of it.

Appointment confirmation texts

Right after booking

Hi [First name], you're booked at [Practice] on [Day, Date] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.

New patient, with forms

Welcome to [Practice], [First name]! Your first visit is [Day] at [Time]. Please fill in your forms before you come: [Link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Appointment reminder text message examples

2 days before

Reminder: [First name], your appointment at [Practice] is on [Day] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.

The day before

Hi [First name], see you tomorrow at [Time] at [Practice], [Address]. Need to change it? Reply R or call [Phone].

2 hours before

Hi [First name], your appointment at [Practice] is today at [Time]. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Running late? Reply LATE.

Dental appointment reminder texts

Cleaning due

Hi [First name], you're due for a cleaning at [Practice]. Book a time here: [Link], or reply with a day that works for you.

Six-month checkup recall

Hi [First name], it's been 6 months since your last checkup at [Practice]. Reply YES and we'll text you open times this week.

Rescheduling and cancellation texts

After a cancellation

Hi [First name], your [Day] [Time] appointment at [Practice] is canceled. Reply with a day that suits you, or book here: [Link].

A slot opens up

Good news, [First name]: a spot just opened at [Practice] on [Day] at [Time]. Reply YES to take it. First reply gets it.

No-show follow-up text

Same day, after a missed visit

Hi [First name], we missed you at [Practice] today. Reply R and we'll find a new time, or book here: [Link].

Vaccine reminder texts for pediatric practices

Vaccine due

Hi [Parent name], [Child name] is due for [Vaccine] at [Practice] this month. Reply YES to book or call [Phone].

Before the vaccine visit

Reminder: [Child name]'s vaccine visit at [Practice] is on [Day] at [Time]. Please bring the vaccination record. Reply R to reschedule.

After-visit and review request texts

Later that day

Thanks for coming in today, [First name]. If we took good care of you, a quick review helps other patients find us: [Link]

Two days later

Hi [First name], this is [Practice] checking in after your visit. Reply here if you have any questions about your care.

How to write reminder texts that get answered

Send two: one 2 to 3 days before, so there is time to fill the slot, and one on the day or the day before.
Start with the practice name, the day and the time. That is what the patient looks for.
Offer one-word replies, such as C to confirm and R to reschedule, so answering takes a second.
Leave out diagnoses, test results and treatment details. A reminder only needs the name, time and place.
Get permission to text, and put "Reply STOP to opt out" in the first message.
Stay under 160 characters. Longer texts are split into parts, and an emoji drops the limit to 70.

Send these automatically

Copying texts by hand works for a few patients a day. We connect reminders to your schedule so they go out on their own, and patients' replies come back to your team, or straight into your calendar where your software allows it. Projects start at $1,500.

Book a free 30-min call What we build for practices

Questions about reminder texts

: Most practices send one reminder 2 to 3 days before, which leaves time to fill the slot if the patient cancels, and a second one the day before or a few hours before the visit.
: The practice name, the day and time, the address for a first visit, and a simple way to confirm or reschedule, such as replying C or R. Leave out diagnoses, test results and other medical details.
: Yes. Get the patient's consent to receive texts, often with a line on the intake form, and include a way to opt out, such as "Reply STOP to opt out". Check the rules that apply to your practice with your compliance advisor.
: One text holds 160 standard characters, or 70 if it contains an emoji or certain special characters. Longer messages are sent as several parts, which costs more to send.