Welcome to Appointment Reminders, Echo's SMS Messaging Tool. This user-friendly application helps organizations communicate with their clients. The results are a reduced number of missed appointments and improved client relationships. 

It is important to ensure that all SMS messages are HIPAA compliant. Some SMS Best Practices are listed below. This list is not complete and should not be used in place of a compliance review or legal counsel.

1. Ensure the NPP (Notice of Privacy Practices) for the organization is up to date and includes a section about SMS Messaging.

2. Offer an alternative way to receive reminders.

3. Document and save opt-ins and messaging permissions.

4. Keep the SMS message simple. These should not contain protected health information.

5. Appointment Reminders does not support receiving text responses, though the responses are captured in the database. Agencies can request a custom auto-responder text message and a custom voice message to help relay this information to clients who reply to a reminder or call the sending phone number.

• Simply send your auto-reply request in writing to support@echoman.com with a subject of "SMS Auto-Responder Request".
• Please provide the exact text for both the text auto-reply and the voice message.
• An example of a basic text auto-reply is:  "This is an unmonitored number. Please call 603-447-8600 with questions."