Notes:
1. Bulk texts are sent from  415-980-1890 (the same number as appt reminders) and unless you have a custom number enabled, then patients will not be able to reply

2. To remove anyone from getting a text, you can make the patient 'inactive' or remove their mobile number.

How to Send Bulk Text?

zHealth Software has introduced a feature that allows you to send bulk text messages to your active patients, specifically those with a mobile number saved in their patient chart, directly from the portal. You can also apply filters to target a specific group of patients. This Bulk Texting feature is available to admin users by navigating to your username in the top right corner and selecting Send Bulk Message.

Here is how you can send the bulk text to your active patients:

Access your zHealth Dashboard. Hover the cursor over your name on the top right corner and then click "Send Bulk Message" from the drop-down menu.

On the Bulk Text window, enter the following details to send a bulk message to active patients: Enter Message to Send - This is the space where you need to type your personalized message. Start typing your message and if you want to add a new line, click Enter/Return. Our Bulk Texting tool can handle line breaks properly. Character count - The system shows the total character count just below the "Enter Message To Send" field on the right side, helping the provider keep track of the message length. E.g. Cost per 160 characters – A one-time 160-character message costs $39, with the total cost varying based on the number of patients you choose to send the message to. The final cost will be shown to the provider for approval before the text messages are sent. Patient filter: The third option available for patient filtering allows the clinic to apply the following filters individually or in combination to target specific patients. Status: By default it it set to pull All patients. The clinic can use this filter to filter out active or inactive patients. Gender: By default, this is set to include all patients. However, the provider can filter patients by selecting Male, Female, or Other. Age Range: By default, all age groups are included. The provider can choose from preset options—0–18, 19–24, 25–40, 41–65, or 65+ using the dropdown menu. Additionally, the "custom" option is available for manually entering a specific age range to filter patients. Patient Type: By default, all patient types are included. The provider can filter patients by selecting specific types such as PI, Cash, Insurance, or any other types defined in the clinic’s Patient Type master list. Patients Having Appointments: By default, this filter includes all patients. Providers can refine the list by selecting specific time frames such as today, tomorrow, yesterday, the next 7 days, past 7 days, next 30 days, or past 30 days. A custom option is also available, allowing the provider to enter a specific date range to filter patients based on their appointment dates. Patient Visit History: This filter enables the provider to narrow down patients based on their last visit date. By default, it includes all patients. However, the provider can choose predefined time frames such as the last week, last month, last 2 months, last 3 months, last 6 months, or last 12 months. A custom option is also available for manually entering a specific date range to filter patients accordingly. Amount to pay - Based on the message length and the number of selected patients, the system will calculate and display the total fee. This allows the clinic to see the cost before sending the message. The provider has the option to either send the message immediately or schedule it for a future date and time. If the "Send Now" option is selected, the message will be sent right away to the chosen patients. If the "Schedule" option is selected, the system will prompt the provider to specify a date and time for sending. Once a scheduled message is sent at the designated time, a notification will appear in the Message Center to notify that the message was successfully sent. Note: The bulk text will not be sent to the active patients who have replied "STOP" (or unsubscribed) to one of your previous text messages/reminders. Note: Once a bulk text message is scheduled it can not be undone or deleted.

After filling in all the required fields for sending the bulk text message, click the NEXT button to proceed. On the following page, review and accept the policy, then click Pay Now & Send Message to send or schedule the bulk text messages.

The page refreshes and a successful notification displays for both queuing and sending the text message.

What is History tab?

1. Send Date: The Send Date shown here reflects the actual date the text message is sent. If the provider selected "Send Now" when initiating the bulk text, the current date will be displayed. If the "Schedule" option was chosen, the scheduled send date will be shown instead.
2. Alert Type: The Alert Type field indicates the mode chosen to send messages. For bulk text messages, it will display "Text," and for in-app notifications, it will show "Push Notification."
3. Message: It shows the actual message sent by the clinic. On the interface, only a portion of the message is displayed; to view the full message, the clinic can hover over it or export the details in CSV format by clicking the download icon provided on the top right section of the screen.
4. Patient Count: It indicates the total number of patients filtered out by the clinic to send the message to.
5. Sender Name: It displays the user name who initiated or scheduled the Bulk Text Message or In-App Notification.
   
6. Status: The Status column shows the current state of the bulk message, which can be In-Progress, Scheduled, or Completed. This reflects the real-time status.
   

If you need help with Bulk Message feature, please reach out to your Customer Success Specialist or send an email to support@zHealthEHR.com.