Standardized text messages improve 30-day patient follow-up for ACS pediatric NSQIP cases.

Abstract

Thirty-day follow-up is a critical and challenging component of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). We hypothesized the simplicity and immediacy of text messaging would increase response rates while reducing workload. For 6months, text messages were the primary form of contact for first and second follow-up attempts. If no response, a phone call was made. Results of this protocol were compared to the previous 6months when phone calls were the primary method. The text message (TM) group had 298 cases and phone call (PC) group had 354. The first contact was successful in 63.8% of the TM group compared to 47.5% of the PC group. The second contact was successful in 15.4% (TM) and 16.9% (PC). In the third attempt, 3.0% answered the call in the TM group versus 9.3% in the PC group. Some families remained unreachable: 17.8% in TM group and 26.3% in PC group (p = 0.01). When totaled, time spent to obtain caregivers' responses was over five times higher in the PC group (910min) than the TM group (173min) (p = 0.005). Patient follow-up using text messaging has improved our follow-up rate while decreasing workload.