Overview
You can access the SMS Reminders Setup window at any time via SMS > Setup SMS Reminders.
Only users with Change SMS Setup permission (in BC Secure), can view the SMS Setup window.
Any user with Change Practice Setup permission prior to upgrading will automatically be granted Change SMS Setup permission following the upgrade.
You can cancel making changes to the SMS Setup at any time, at which time you will be prompted to confirm your decision.
For information on the available tabs:
Standard Messages for SMS Reminders
You can create standard messages (templates) for each of the Practitioners in your Bluechip database, as well as a default 'Practice-wide' standard message.
1. From the Bluechip main window select SMS > Setup SMS Reminders. The SMS Reminders window appears.
2. Select
the Standard Message
tab.
3. From the Message Template drop-down box, select whether you wish to edit the Practice-wide standard message or that for one of the Practitioners in your Bluechip database.
4. Create
the standard message. You can enter a maximum of 160 alpha-numeric
characters per message, as indicated at the top-right of the message
body window. As you type, this number will decrease. With 20 or
fewer characters remaining, this number is displayed in red.
By right-clicking in the message body you can access a menu of
merge fields that you can then insert into your message at the
insertion point. These field
codes act as place holders for information, and will be replaced
automatically when you send the message. For example, if you enter
the field code [PatName], this will insert the name of the patient
for whom you are creating the message. Note that you must click
where you want to place the merge field before right-clicking
and selecting it, to ensure that the field is inserted in the
correct place.
Keeping in mind that there is a 160-character limit for each message,
you must note that Bluechip sets aside a number of characters
for each field you add. You are still able to keep typing beyond
what Bluechip thinks the limit will be, but the text appears in
red with a strike-through as an indicator for you.
Click 
(preview) button
at the top-left of the SMS Reminders Setup window to preview
your standard message.
- Click
(revert) button to revert the text you've entered to the
default SMS Reminders message, which is "[PatGiven],
you have an appointment with [PractName] on [ApptDate]
at [ApptTime]".
5. Click OK. to confirm and save your standard messages.
Message Schedule Tab
This tab provides for the scheduling of SMS Reminders.
Items of interest on this window |
|
Intervals |
This section allows you to set up the interval prior to patients' appointments at which SMS Reminder reminders will be sent. |
Scheduler Time |
Use the Run at (time of day) text box to enter a time at which you want your reminder messages to be sent. Note that Bluechip must be running on the computer you have selected at this time for the reminder messages to be sent. |
Do Not Send... check box |
When this check box is enabled, messages which would otherwise be sent on a closed or absent day will be sent on the last working day before the closed/absent day. |
Status Tab
Each SMS message that is sent incurs a charge, deducted from
the number of credits on your account. The 
button on this window can be used to determine the number of credits
you have remaining.
When you click the Get Credits button, SMS Reminders will attempt to contact the SMS service provider in order to determine the number of credits you have remaining with them. This functionality requires that you have active internet access from the computer you are using. The application may appear not to respond momentarily while this request is in progress.
Note also that your credit quota is not stored with Bluechip. Therefore, whenever you access the Credit Status tab your Credits Remaining will be 'unknown' (as indicated in the preceding image) until you refresh this data by clicking on the Get Credits button.
Reply Behaviour
Configure how Bluechip interprets SMS replies from your patients with the Reply Behaviour tab.
Each type of reply (Confirmation, Cancellation, or Opt Out) is pre-configured to accept default replies such as "Yes" or "Y" for example, as shown in the image below. Here you can record additional accepted replies.
Recall Messages for SMS Reminders
You can create recall messages (templates) for each of the Practitioners in your Bluechip database, as well as a default 'Practice-wide' message.
1. From the Bluechip main window select SMS > Setup SMS Reminders. The SMS Reminders window appears.
2. Select
the Recall Message
tab.
3. From the Message Template drop-down box, select whether you wish to edit the Practice-wide message or that for one of the Practitioners in your Bluechip database.
4. Create
the message. You can enter a maximum of 160 alpha-numeric characters
per message, as indicated at the top-right of the message body
window. As you type, this number will decrease. With 20 or fewer
characters remaining, this number is displayed in red.
By right-clicking in the message body you can access a menu of
merge fields that you can then insert into your message at the
insertion point. These field
codes act as place holders for information, and will be replaced
automatically when you send the message. For example, if you enter
the field code [PatName], this will insert the name of the patient
for whom you are creating the message. Note that you must click
where you want to place the merge field before right-clicking
and selecting it, to ensure that the field is inserted in the
correct place.
Keeping in mind that there is a 160-character limit for each message,
you must note that Bluechip sets aside a number of characters
for each field you add. You are still able to keep typing beyond
what Bluechip thinks the limit will be, but the text appears in
red with a strike-through as an indicator for you.
5. Click OK to confirm and save your recall messages.