Free templates
23 short reminder and confirmation texts for medical, dental and other appointments. Each one names the practice, says when, gives one way to answer and ends with an opt-out line. None of them says why the patient is coming, and the privacy section explains why.
The short version
A good reminder text has five parts: the practice name, the patient's first name, the day and time, one way to answer, and "Reply STOP to opt out." Keep it to one 160-character segment if you can, and keep the reason for the visit out of it. Placeholders are in braces: {first_name}, {practice}, {day}, {date}, {time}, {provider} and {phone}.
The templates
Each card shows the template, the same text filled in with sample details, and its length. All of them fit in one 160-character segment even with a long practice name like "Cedar Grove Family Medicine"; a shorter name leaves more room.
The workhorse. Who, when, and one way to answer.
Hi {first_name}, this is {practice}. A reminder of your appointment {day} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, this is Cedar Grove Family Medicine. A reminder of your appointment tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: {first_name}, you have an appointment with {provider} {day} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: Maya, you have an appointment with Dr. Khan tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi {first_name}, see you {day} at {time} at {practice}. To change the time, call {phone}. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, see you tomorrow at 10:30 AM at Cedar Grove Family Medicine. To change the time, call (555) 010-0142. Reply STOP to opt out.
Short, sent a few hours ahead, with a number to call if plans changed.
Hi {first_name}, a reminder from {practice}: your appointment is today at {time}. Running late? Call {phone}. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, a reminder from Cedar Grove Family Medicine: your appointment is today at 10:30 AM. Running late? Call (555) 010-0142. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: see you today at {time}, {first_name}. If you can no longer make it, please call {phone}. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: see you today at 10:30 AM, Maya. If you can no longer make it, please call (555) 010-0142. Reply STOP to opt out.
Asks for an answer. Only promise a reply keyword your system actually reads.
{practice}: please confirm your appointment on {date} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: please confirm your appointment on Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: can you make it {day} at {time}? Reply YES to confirm or NO and we will call you. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: can you make it tomorrow at 10:30 AM? Reply YES to confirm or NO and we will call you. Reply STOP to opt out.
Sent once the slot is booked, so the patient has it in writing.
Hi {first_name}, you're booked at {practice} with {provider} on {date} at {time}. To change it, call {phone}. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, you're booked at Cedar Grove Family Medicine with Dr. Khan on Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. To change it, call (555) 010-0142. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: your appointment is confirmed for {date} at {time}. We'll text you a reminder the day before. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: your appointment is confirmed for Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. We'll text you a reminder the day before. Reply STOP to opt out.
Plain facts, the new time if there is one, and how to get another.
Hi {first_name}, your appointment at {practice} has moved to {date} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R for another time. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, your appointment at Cedar Grove Family Medicine has moved to Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R for another time. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: your appointment on {date} at {time} has been cancelled. Call {phone} to book a new time. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: your appointment on Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM has been cancelled. Call (555) 010-0142 to book a new time. Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi {first_name}, we missed you at {practice} today. Call {phone} and we'll find you a new time. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, we missed you at Cedar Grove Family Medicine today. Call (555) 010-0142 and we'll find you a new time. Reply STOP to opt out.
What to bring and when to arrive. Nothing about why they are coming.
Welcome to {practice}, {first_name}. Your first visit is {date} at {time}. Please bring a photo ID and insurance card. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Welcome to Cedar Grove Family Medicine, Maya. Your first visit is Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. Please bring a photo ID and insurance card. Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi {first_name}, {practice} here. For your first visit {day} at {time}, please arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, Cedar Grove Family Medicine here. For your first visit tomorrow at 10:30 AM, please arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork. Reply STOP to opt out.
"Dental visit" is as specific as it gets. Not the cleaning, not the crown.
Hi {first_name}, {practice} here. A reminder of your dental visit {day} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, Cedar Grove Family Medicine here. A reminder of your dental visit tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: {first_name}, you're due for your next visit. Call {phone} or reply R and we'll call you to book. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: Maya, you're due for your next visit. Call (555) 010-0142 or reply R and we'll call you to book. Reply STOP to opt out.
The provider's name is fine. The specialty, the test and the reason are not.
{practice}: {first_name}, your appointment with {provider} is {date} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: Maya, your appointment with Dr. Khan is Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: your visit is {day} at {time}. Please bring your insurance card and a list of your medications. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: your visit is tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Please bring your insurance card and a list of your medications. Reply STOP to opt out.
"Follow-up" says there was a visit before. It does not say what it was for.
Hi {first_name}, your follow-up visit at {practice} is {date} at {time}. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Hi Maya, your follow-up visit at Cedar Grove Family Medicine is Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
{practice}: {first_name}, it's time to book your follow-up with {provider}. Call {phone} or reply R and we'll call you. Reply STOP to opt out.
Filled in
Cedar Grove Family Medicine: Maya, it's time to book your follow-up with Dr. Khan. Call (555) 010-0142 or reply R and we'll call you. Reply STOP to opt out.
Formal usted. Write the date and time in Spanish yourself: most systems fill {date} and {time} in English. These avoid á, í, ó and ú on purpose; see the length section for why.
Hola {first_name}: su cita en {practice} es mañana a las {time}. Responda C para confirmar o R para cambiarla. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Filled in
Hola Maya: su cita en Cedar Grove Family Medicine es mañana a las 10:30 a. m.. Responda C para confirmar o R para cambiarla. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Hola {first_name}: su cita en {practice} es hoy a las {time}. Si no puede venir, llame al {phone}. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Filled in
Hola Maya: su cita en Cedar Grove Family Medicine es hoy a las 10:30 a. m.. Si no puede venir, llame al (555) 010-0142. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Hola {first_name}: su cita en {practice} queda confirmada para el {date} a las {time}. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Filled in
Hola Maya: su cita en Cedar Grove Family Medicine queda confirmada para el martes 6 de octubre a las 10:30 a. m.. Responda STOP para darse de baja.
Character counts are for the filled-in sample with this page's example names and numbers, counted in GSM-7 as Twilio describes it. Your counts change with your practice name and the patient's name. Names, numbers and practices in the samples are invented.
How to write one
According to Twilio's documentation, one SMS message holds 160 characters in the standard GSM-7 encoding. A longer message is sent as several segments of 153 characters each, because each segment gives up seven characters to a header that lets the phone stitch them back together.[1] A patient sees one text either way, but many senders pay per segment, so a 165-character reminder can cost twice what a 155-character one does.
One character can shrink the limit to 70. GSM-7 covers English letters, digits, common punctuation and some accented letters, including é and ñ. It does not include á, í, ó or ú, and it does not include emoji. A single character outside the table switches the whole message to UCS-2, which holds 70 characters, or 67 per segment.[1][2]That is why the Spanish templates above are worded around words like "más" and "día": "mañana" and "teléfono" stay in GSM-7, "más" and "día" do not. A patient's own name with one of those accents does the same thing, so leave a little room.
We are not going to cite a study for the perfect lead time. Lydoh's own default is one text about 24 hours before the appointment, sent between 8 AM and 8 PM in the practice's time zone, so it arrives the day before and never in the middle of the night. A same-day text a few hours ahead is a reasonable second touch for early-morning slots.
If you rely on the FCC's 2015 exemption for healthcare texts (see below), it limits a provider to one message per day and no more than three per week.[4]
A text is read by whoever holds the phone, and lock screens show the first line to anyone nearby. A shared family phone, a parent on a teenager's plan, a coworker at the next desk. "Your appointment tomorrow at 10:30 AM" tells them nothing. "Your biopsy results appointment" tells them a great deal. So none of the templates on this page name a visit reason, a procedure, a diagnosis or a test result, and yours should not either.
HHS guidance on leaving messages for patients says the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits providers to communicate with patients at home, by mail or phone, but that they "should take care to limit the amount of information disclosed," for example by leaving "only its name and number and other information necessary to confirm an appointment." It also says that when a patient reasonably asks to be contacted another way, the provider must accommodate it.[3] That FAQ is written about answering machines; in our reading the same care applies to a text.
The FCC's 2015 order, in granting its healthcare exemption, says HIPAA privacy rules control the content of these messages, and quotes the caution that they "must not be of such a personal nature that it would violate the privacy" of the patient if another person received them.[4]
In a 2015 order the FCC exempted certain healthcare calls and texts to mobile numbers, including "appointment and exam confirmations and reminders," from its prior-express-consent requirement, on conditions.[4] For texts, those conditions include:
This is a summary of one order, not legal advice. Whether the exemption covers your messages, and what other federal or state rules apply to you, is a question to check with your counsel.
Sending them without a spreadsheet
If your practice runs on Lydoh, you do not have to copy anything: the reminder goes out on its own.
{first_name}, {name}, {practice}, {day}, {date}, {time} and {provider}. Templates above marked "Works in Lydoh Settings" paste straight in; leave off the last line.Hi Maya, this is Cedar Grove Family Medicine. A reminder of your appointment tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
The practice and patient are examples. Read more on the appointment reminders page.
FAQ
Five things: who it is from (the practice name), who it is for (a first name), when (day and time), one way to answer (reply C to confirm or R to reschedule, or a number to call), and an opt-out line such as "Reply STOP to opt out." Leave out the reason for the visit. Example: "Hi Maya, this is Cedar Grove Family Medicine. A reminder of your appointment tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out."
Say the appointment is booked, give the date and time, and say how to change it. For example: "Hi Maya, you're booked at Cedar Grove Family Medicine with Dr. Khan on Tue, Oct 6 at 10:30 AM. To change it, call (555) 010-0142. Reply STOP to opt out." If you instead want the patient to confirm, ask for a reply keyword, and only use one your system actually reads.
Aim for one SMS segment. Per Twilio's documentation, one message holds 160 characters in the standard GSM-7 encoding; a longer message is split into segments of 153 characters each. A single character outside GSM-7, an emoji or an á for example, switches the whole message to UCS-2, where the limit is 70 characters, or 67 per segment. The FCC's 2015 healthcare exemption also lists "160 characters or less" for text messages among its conditions.
We do not cite a study for the ideal lead time. Lydoh's own default is one text about 24 hours before the appointment, sent between 8 AM and 8 PM in the practice's time zone. If you rely on the FCC's 2015 exemption for healthcare texts, one of its conditions is no more than one message per day and three per week from a provider.
Don't. Whoever holds the phone reads the text: a partner, a parent, a coworker glancing at a lock screen. HHS guidance on phone messages tells providers to limit what they disclose, for example to the practice's name and number and what is needed to confirm the appointment. The FCC's 2015 order says HIPAA privacy rules control the content of these messages. Keep the reason, the procedure and any results out.
Include it. The FCC's 2015 healthcare exemption requires texts to tell recipients they can opt out by replying "STOP" and requires the provider to honor it immediately. Whether that exemption, or another consent rule, governs your messages is a question for your counsel; the opt-out line costs 22 characters either way.
Yes: "Hi Maya, Cedar Grove Dental here. A reminder of your dental visit tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out." Say "dental visit", not the cleaning, the filling or the crown.
No template is compliant or non-compliant on its own; compliance depends on how you collect numbers, send, store and honor requests. These templates are written to the HHS guidance that messages should carry only what is needed to confirm an appointment. For anything beyond that, check with your counsel.
Template wording is ours, free to use. Lydoh's reminder behavior described here is what ships today. Sources checked October 5, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Lydoh answers your practice's phone and texts patients the day before their appointment, in your wording.
