Pharmacy Announcements
The Announcements tool allows pharmacy staff to send one-way broadcast messages to their entire patient base. Use this to communicate operational changes, health campaigns, or urgent updates.
Best Practices for Writing Announcements
- Keep it Scannable: Patients often read messages on the go. Use short sentences and clear calls to action (e.g., "Call us at [Phone] if you have questions").
- Identify Your Pharmacy: Start every message with your pharmacy's name so patients immediately recognize the sender.
- Avoid PHI: Never include Protected Health Information (names, specific medications, or dosages) in the freeform text.
- Timing Matters: Messages respect quiet hours (8 PM – 8 AM), but for the best engagement, send updates mid-morning (10 AM) or mid-afternoon (2 PM).
Messaging Templates
How-To: Sending an Announcement
- Navigate: Click the Announcements tab in your dashboard (found within the Chat section).
- Compose: Type your message in the text box. Note the live Recipient Count to see how many patients will receive the update.
- Target (Optional): Use the Age Suppression toggle to exclude patients under 5 and over 65 (ideal for messages not relevant to pediatric or senior populations).
- Review & Send: Click Send. A confirmation preview will appear. Once you confirm, the message is queued for immediate delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible? Any patient with a prescription fill in the last 365 days and a verified mobile number.
- Why is my send blocked? You may have reached the 5-send daily limit, or your message body is empty.
- Can I edit a message? No. Once an announcement is confirmed, it cannot be edited or recalled. Always double-check your preview!