Managing Reminders and Notifications: SMS, Email, and WhatsApp

Overview

tipulim.app sends automatic notifications to patients at key moments: appointment confirmation, reminder, payment link, and digital forms. Three channels are supported: SMS, email, and WhatsApp.

Notification types

Appointment confirmation — sent immediately
Appointment reminder — once per appointment, about a day before
Appointment awaiting approval — when manual approval is required
Payment link — a link to pay
Intake form — a digital form to complete

Setting up channels

Go to Settings → Notifications
For each notification type, check the channels you want (SMS / email / WhatsApp)
Save

Patient preferences

Each patient can choose which channels they want to receive notifications through. Their preference overrides the default.

Editing templates

Every message is based on a template that can be edited under Management → Templates. Available variables:

{patientName} — patient name
{date} — date
{time} — time
{practitionerName} — practitioner name
{amount} — amount
{link} — link

SMS sender name

SMS messages leave from one sender approved in advance with the platform SMS provider, and the practitioner name appears in the message body. That way the patient knows who it is from.

WhatsApp messages are sent via approved templates. This is configured at the platform level and requires no action from the practitioner.

When the reminder is sent

Each appointment gets one reminder, about a day before it. The system checks once a day, in the morning, all upcoming appointments up to a day and a half ahead, and sends a reminder to every appointment that has not had one yet. So the same appointment never gets the same reminder twice.

SMS reminders for patients

The default for appointment reminders is WhatsApp and email. SMS is a paid channel, so it is not turned on automatically. To send SMS reminders, go to Settings → Notifications, check SMS on the appointment reminder row and save.

A patient who chose a different channel in their preferences receives that one, because the patient preference overrides the default. The patient needs a phone number or an email address on file for a reminder to be sent.

A short, clear message

A good reminder is short and gives what the patient needs, which is who, when and at what time. You can edit the SMS wording under Management → Templates and use the variables listed above. For example

Hello {patientName}, a reminder of your appointment with {practitionerName} on {date} at {time}. We look forward to seeing you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send SMS only? Yes. Check only SMS in the notification settings. A patient who set a different preference receives that one.

Will the patient get the reminder twice? No. Each appointment gets exactly one reminder.

Tips

One good channel beats three mediocre ones
Keep templates short and to the point
Test yourself — book a trial appointment

Troubleshooting

SMS not arriving? Make sure the number is valid (10 digits, starting with 05). Email going to spam? Ask the patient to add you to their contacts.