How patients agree to text messages

Last updated: October 2026

SAIS Care sends appointment text messages only to patients who agreed to receive them. Consent is collected in person, at registration, by clinic staff using the SAIS Care staff app. Staff can't save a new patient until they have asked the question and recorded the answer.

1. What staff read to the patient

When registering a patient, staff read this question out loud, exactly as written:

“May SAIS Care send you text messages about your appointments at this number? These are reminders, requests to confirm, and offers of an earlier time. Usually 1 to 3 messages per appointment. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt out, or HELP for help. Saying no does not affect your care.”

2. What staff record

This is the consent step of the Register Patient form in the staff app. It is a required question with no answer chosen in advance:

Appointment messages consent *

Read this to the patient:

◯ Patient agreed to receive appointment messages
◯ Patient declined (no reminder messages will be sent)

Agreed: the patient is saved as opted in, and the app records the date, time and staff member in its consent log.
Declined: the patient is still registered and still gets care. They are saved as opted out and receive no reminder texts.
Only the mobile number the patient gives for appointment messages is used.

3. Changing your mind

Reply STOP to any message to opt out. You get one confirmation and nothing more. The opt-out is recorded straight away.
Reply START to opt back in, or ask the front desk.
Reply HELP, or email support@sais.live.

4. What you will receive

Appointment reminders, requests to confirm, and offers of an earlier slot. No marketing.
Usually 1 to 3 messages per appointment. Message and data rates may apply.

Sample message:

Hi Sam, this is a reminder about your Lab Work appointment at 10:00 AM on October 21. Reply 1 to confirm, 2 to reschedule or 3 to cancel. Reply STOP to opt out. - SAIS Care

5. During the capstone

SAIS Care is a graduate capstone at The George Washington University. While the project runs, the only real people who receive messages are test participants who gave their own number and agreed in the same way.

See also: Terms of service · Privacy policy · SMS terms. No mobile information is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text-messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.