In this article, we'll walk through:
- The benefits of SMS Templates
- The abilities and limitations of SMS Templates
After reading this article, you will:
- Understand how the SMS Template feature works
- Understand how you to create SMS Templates in Workshop
- Understand the extent of the feature’s capabilities
SMS Template basics
The SMS Template feature in Workshop offers the ability to create predefined text messages to send to patients. Build templates for the texts frequently sent within your program, to standardize their messaging and reduce the amount of time coaches spend authoring texts.
SMS Templates also provide the ability to send Assessments directly to patients. Currently, the only way to send patients Assessments via SMS is to first create a template in Workshop that includes the Assessment.
Once templates are published to your live environment, they’re accessible in the Patient Profile when sending a new message. Coaches make their selection using the template menu, and can then edit the predefined content before sending the SMS to the patient. This excludes any changes to Assessments built into templates, which can’t be altered or removed.
Sending a SMS using a template can also be automated using Processes in Workshop.
Important note: Your SMS won't send if “Messages” hasn't been enabled on the Action Bar in Workshop.
SMS Templates in Workshop
Create a template in Workshop by naming it, authoring the SMS message, and inserting “variables” into that message, if and where appropriate. Further customize templates by adding an Assessment and setting access restrictions according to Phase and Role.
Important Note: Messages exceeding 140 characters may be split into multiple texts, depending on the recipient’s cellular provider. Adding an Assessment to a template won’t affect the character count of the message.
More about variables
“Variables” are placeholder displays that automatically populate with the dynamic data they represent, whenever the template is triggered. The data that appears in place of a variable is automated based on the context of the template.
For example, if you paste the {{patient_first_name}} variable code after “Hello” in a message, and send a SMS to Fozzie Bear using that template, it would read “Hello Fozzie.”
Currently, SMS Template variables include:
- Patient names
- Coach names
- Appointment data
Important Note: You must first create Appointment Prompts to use appointment-related variables.
Send Assessments to patients
Add Assessments to SMS Templates to send them directly to patients. When that template is used, a unique URL for the Assessment is generated and texted along with the message. Only Assessments that have “Coaches and patients” designated as the recipient will appear as options for adding to templates.
Important Note: Patient-facing Assessments cannot be removed or changed when using the template in the Coach Portal. If the template includes an Assessment some patients shouldn’t see, restrict access to the template by Phase and/or Role in its Visibility settings.
Here are some additional resources: