Novant’s new initiative is giving patients without internet access more flexibility.
WINSTON-SALEM – Novant Health is the first health system in North Carolina to offer expanded two-way text messaging capabilities for patients through its electronic health record, Epic. Novant Health patients in the Charlotte and Winston-Salem, N.C., areas, may opt-in to receive text messages, allowing them to receive updates and take action on items related to visits, their MyChart account, billing notifications, prescription reminders and more. The new capability is powered by Epic’s Hello World platform and removes the need for patients to have internet access to take action.
“We are committed to making health care accessible and convenient for all patients” said Dr. Margaret Lozovatsky, senior vice president and chief health informatics officer. “In partnership with Epic, we are removing barriers, making information available to patients as seamlessly as possible, often with just one click.”
How do Novant Health patients enroll to receive text messages?
There are three ways a patient may opt-in to receive text messages from Novant Health, including taking one of the following actions:
- Text START to 56458.
- Update your text messaging preferences and notifications under Communication Preferences in MyChart.
- Ask the front desk when you check in at a Novant Health facility or clinic.
Patients who already receive text messages from Novant Health will also need to enroll in the new text messaging platform to activate the new capabilities. Message and data rates may apply.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org/SMS.
It would be helpful if Novant put equal effort into getting the results out to physicians quickly through a useful interface so we are not blindly struggling to help patients who are in a panic about “abnormal” test results.