To increase access to health care for all Veterans, VA has created VEText, an interactive mobile solution to remind Veterans of upcoming appointments via text messaging.
More than 9 million VA health care appointments are missed each year.
VEText has sent appointment reminders to more than five million Veterans
The goal is to offer a quick and easy way to confirm or cancel appointments and then schedule another Veteran into that time slot if possible. Just since the program began in March, the national no-show rate has declined from 13.68 percent to 12.22 percent.
Beginning October 1, Veterans throughout the nation will be receiving interactive VEText appointment reminders on their mobile devices. Most are receiving the reminders now.
Make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number
Every Veteran with a cell phone number listed in their health record is automatically enrolled in the program, so it is very important for Veterans to ensure that your local medical center has your current phone numbers.
Veterans may update their phone numbers during check-in at their next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities.
The first text message reminder will be sent seven days before the appointment and a second reminder text message will be sent two days day before the appointment. The timing/frequency of the reminders may vary by facility.
Veterans should review the date and time of each appointment and use the prompts provided in the message to either confirm or cancel the appointment. Veterans with multiple appointments on the same day will receive multiple reminders.
As of May 31, 2018, VEText has sent appointment reminders to more than five million unique Veterans with over 9 million messages exchanged. Also, the system has allowed 134,000 appointments to be cancelled via a simple response, creating an open slot for another Veteran and possibly preventing a no-show.
Don’t text? You can opt out.
The VEText system also has an easy to use opt-out process for Veterans who do not want to use the text messaging reminders. Simply reply to the text message with “STOP.” Additionally, all appointment reminder messages contain instructions on how to end the message delivery. If you want to restart the text message appointment reminders, simply text “START” to a previous reminder message and service will resume.
VEText works for VA health care appointments only and the text messages do not currently replace the letters and automated phone calls Veterans already receive for appointment reminders.
For more information please visit our VEText FAQ’s page: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp
Text messaging rates may apply depending on your individual cell phone plan.
Deanna Callahan is the VEText Program Manager for the VHA Office of Veterans Access to Care.
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Vetext message ends with this sentence, “Send ‘STOP’ to end messages.”
I interpreted that to mean the current reminder, not to end all future reminders.
The sentence could more clearly be worded, “If you wish to discontinue receiving
text appointment reminders, reply ‘STOP’ to this text message.”
interested in being text concerning my medical appointments
I have already gotten a reminder. I think it is a great idea! Thank you!
Oh my goodness, another app that is way off point. This is so 1980’s bag phone or 1990’s flip phone. In other words way to far behind. Is this the best the VA could do? To shove out pre feature phone apps? Why not build an app to work on the phone replacements instead? This way maybe we could reduce the no show down to the 1 to 2 percent no show that medical treatment facilities have that use modern technology. Whoever is deciding on this type of VA program really needs to step up their game. I am sure the ones that are just running and managing the program are doing the best they can with what is being shoveled their way. However it would be nice to see one of this type of program that does not through us back into the 1970’s or 80’s during the infancy of modern technology.
This is so 1980’s bag phone or early 1990’s flip phone debut. Really is this the best the VA can do is throw us all back 20 to 30 years? Why the pre feature phone app’s?
I need a new Veterans Choice Card.
Earl F Loving, Jr
(personal information redacted)
My mobile phone tends to self-destruct because even as a civilian I tend to be unable to be gentle with my digital gear. Because of this sometimes my mobile phone can be offline for anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Is there a way around this since I do not have a landline and have unusual MVNO APN settings in my mobile handsets.
I am a retired clinical psychologist and AF medic during the Vietnam Conflict. For awhile I volunteered at our local VA Center that covers 14 counties. I was making personal calls to Vets as the third tier of reminders and 24 hours before their appt. I was to follow a brief script of what to say end ing w/ “have a great day”. When i actually made direct contact w/ a peer I would engage them in a chat about their MOS, where they were stationed, etc. In time i got criticized for this, became disillusioned and quit. Almost all of the Vets I contacted are diagnosed w/ PTSD and SUD. The personalized touch in my clinical and personal view is the best approach to tretment engagement.
Rich, MSW
Great! I’ve already been notified by text. I usually get recorded messgaes by phone, too. I’ll take all the reminders I can get!
My phone doesn’t text. Will I still get notifications by paper mail, phone calls, or secure messaging instead?
Looks real good….something we all need.
I don’t text. Does this mean that I will not be getting reminders? Can I get a reminder through email or the Secure Messaging system that is already there? Thanks.
Like many patient-facing VA technology programs, this reminder feature is nice, but incomplete. The reminders ought to be able to include the clinic name and location (floor number, for example) of clinics for upcoming appointments.
So I have to wait until my next VA appt and can’t update any other way? You should be able to at least go into MyHealtheVet and perform this task and not wait for a future appt.
I DO NOT TEXT. BUT I WOULD LIKE E=MAIL REMINDER’S. DAVID W. SUNKLE.
How do I sign up for E-mail message for
my appointments ?
Ivan, you can receive an Email Reminder about your appointment by setting your Preferences in your My HealtheVet account. Here’s additional information to set up your email notification https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/va-appointments-faqs#appointmentnotification. If you need assistance, please call the My HealtheVet Help Desk at 1-877-327-0022 or visit http://www.myhealth.va.gov and select “Contact” in the upper right corner to submit feedback online.
How do I sign up?
Stephen, to receive appointment reminders through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
All good
God bless all my Vets
My wife’s cell phone is getting my appt reminders. [redacted] Please change the nbr on file to my nbr. Thank you, Gerald
Mr. Marvel,
Please contact your local facility or update your phone numbers online. Unfortunately, our public affairs team does not have access to those records.
My current cell phone number:
[redacted]
Mr. Schulz,
Please contact your local facility or update your phone numbers online. Unfortunately, our public affairs team does not have access to those records.
Yes please enroll me in text msg appointments.
James, to receive appointment reminders through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
David Lawrence McSpadden, Sr
[redacted]
Mr. McSpadden,
Please contact your local facility or update your phone numbers online. Unfortunately, our public affairs team does not have access to those records.
How do I sign up for text messaging from medical appointments at the VA
Richard, to receive appointment reminders through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR TEXT MESSAGING?
This system automatically enrolls you into VEText based on the phone information already on file in our system. Make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
I think this is a great thing
my cell phone is [redacted], please use this for txt messages
Please contact your local facility or update your phone numbers online. Unfortunately, our public affairs team does not have access to those records.
Waiting for the pharmacy all day to call is not fair at all. Even a disabled vet has a life. It would be great to have someone who deals with this situation look into this situation. A time gap of 4 hours is fine with me. I do realize I’m not the only vet in the world. Thank you.
William, where you informed by the pharmacy you would receive a call from them? Have they reached out to you yet? Which VA pharmacy is this?
Confusing…not sure on how to proceed.
To receive appointment reminders through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
How do I sign up for Vettex messaging concerning appointments?
You should have automatically been enrolled into VEText based on the cell phone number listed in your health record. Make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You can update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
Good things are now showing up!!!!!
I want to sign up for VAtext
You should have automatically been enrolled into VEText based on the cell phone number listed in your health record. Make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You can update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
My current phone number is [redacted]
Please contact your local facility or update your phone numbers online. Unfortunately, our public affairs team does not have access to those records.
How do I sign up for Text message for my
medical appointments at the VA??
To receive appointment reminders through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
To receive appointment reminder through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
How do I sign up for Text message for my
medical appointments at the VA??
I am very interested in this advantage
Every Veteran with a cell phone number listed in their health record is automatically enrolled in the VEText program, so it is very important to ensure that your local medical center has your current phone numbers. Please contact your local facility or VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
Like to be reminded of appointmentsThanks
To receive appointment reminder through VEText, make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
This system automatically enrolls you into VEText based on the phone information already on file in our system. Make sure your VA medical center has your current cell phone number. You may update your phone number during check-in at your next appointment, or use the self-service kiosks located throughout our facilities. You may also contact your local facility for assistance with this or visit the VEText FAQ’s page for more information: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/vetext_faqs.asp.
So I have to wait until my next VA appt and can’t update any other way? You should be able to at least go into MyHealtheVet and perform this task and not wait for a future appt.
Hi Ivan: Just read the article and it says you will be automatically enrolled if you have a cell number on file with the VA. If not; you should call their business office and update. Take care. A fellow Vet :)