In today's digital society, mobile devices play a crucial role in communication and management of daily tasks. Using SMS notifications to inform patients when it's time to take/renew their medicines is an effective tool for improving healthcare services and patient satisfaction.
Background
Late medicine pickups can lead to deterioration of patients' health. The lack of timely information about the availability and the possibility of taking medicines in pharmacies often causes unnecessary visits and time loss for both patients and pharmacists.
Problem
- Unknown date: Patients don't know when they need to take their medicines or when they need to renew their prescriptions.
- Unnecessary visits: Multiple visits to the pharmacy without result.
- Delayed treatment: Delays in starting or continuing treatment due to lack of prescriptions.
Solution: SMS notifications for medicines
SMS notifications for medicines represent a system (Pharm Reminder), which automates the process of informing patients when their prescriptions are due and medicines are available in the pharmacy. Here's how this system works:
- Patient registration: After processing the prescriptions, the pharmacist adds the patient's phone number.
- Processing the request: The software automatically starts tracking all aspects, so the patient can be informed monthly without the need for pharmacist intervention.
- Sending an SMS notification: When the medicine pickup date arrives, the system automatically sends an SMS message to the patient, informing him that he can pick up his medicines. The system has previously reminded the pharmacist to order them, so they are available.
- Security and privacy: The messages contain the minimum necessary information, respecting the standards for protecting personal data.
Benefits
For patients:
- Time saving: Avoiding unnecessary visits to the pharmacy.
- Convenience: Receiving information directly on the mobile phone.
- On-time treatment: Guarantee that the treatment will not be delayed due to prescription expiration.
For pharmacists and pharmacies:
- Efficiency: Better inventory management and pharmacy workflow.
- Improved communication: Clear connection with patients without the need for additional calls.
- Patient satisfaction: Increased trust and satisfaction from the services.
- Resource optimization: Reducing the workload on the pharmacy staff.
- Cost reduction: Less administrative tasks and more efficient use of time.
Example case
Maria is a 72-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. She often struggles to get her medicines, as her prescriptions are for 3 months and it's difficult for her to remember when she needs to take them and when she needs to renew them. Often her prescriptions expire due to delay or she visits the pharmacy without active prescriptions.
Implementation of SMS notifications
- Automated notifications: The pharmacy starts sending SMS messages to Maria.
Results
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Time saved: Maria only visits the pharmacy when she is sure it's time for her medicines, and the pharmacy is always prepared for her.
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On-time treatment: She doesn't have delays in her treatment.
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Satisfaction: She feels more relaxed and satisfied with the service.
Conclusion
SMS notifications are an effective way to improve communication between pharmacies and patients. Our system offers significant benefits, such as time savings, increased efficiency, and improved quality of healthcare services.