Oklahoma City VA Health Care System

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System launched VEText to provide Veterans a convenient text message system to remind them of appointments and allow them to opt out of an appointment with a simple text message reply.

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System launched VEText on April 4, 2018 to provide Veterans a convenient text message system to remind them of appointments and allow them to opt out of an appointment with a simple text message reply.

Nationally, more than nine million VA health care appointments are unutilized each year due to missed appointments. The Veterans Health Administration has identified an enterprise-wide solution to remind Veterans of upcoming appointments via text messaging. Starting this month, the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System will roll out text appointment reminders to selected clinics before expanding this initiative to all outpatient clinic appointments.

Veterans with a phone number (cell and/or home) on file will receive a text message reminder for most VA appointments 10 days prior to any scheduled appointments. If no confirmation or cancellation, an additional text message reminder will be sent again 4 days prior to a scheduled appointment. Veterans will be able to confirm or cancel the appointment by responding to the text message prompts. If an appointment is cancelled, this allows another veteran an opportunity to book into that appointment.

Private health information will not be included in text messages. Standard text messaging rates may apply. Veterans who do not wish to receive text messages will have the ability to opt out of future messages after receiving the initial text message by simply replying STOP as seen below.

Personal and/or automated phone calls will still be made to remind patients of appointments, including appointment letters, if applicable. The text message simply serves as an additional reminder for our veterans.

For a preview on your phone, text ‘Demo’ to 909-245-9443.