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Improving Appointment Management and Reducing Patient No-Shows

Use Case

Gospić General Hospital struggled with high no-show rates and unreliable patient communication channels, especially in rural regions with poor internet coverage.

Bytecraft, the hospital’s chosen solution provider, implemented the SMSEagle hardware SMS gateway to automate appointment reminders, send dependable patient notifications, and support SMS-based cancellations — significantly enhancing scheduling efficiency and reducing no-shows.

“SMSEagle is an essential part of our communication infrastructure. It works reliably and helps us ensure important messages reach their recipients.”
Petra Svoboda
CEO, Bytecraft d.o.o.

About the company

Bytecraft d.o.o., based in Zagreb, Croatia, is a technology company specialising in integration solutions, custom software development, and IT consulting. Since 2018, Bytecraft has supported public-sector and private-sector clients in healthcare, government, and insurance, delivering systems where reliable communication and data processing are essential.

In partnership with SMSEagle, Bytecraft expanded its healthcare communication offering by implementing dependable SMS-based alerts for appointment management at Gospić General Hospital.

Company website: www.bytecraft.eu

Reasons for Partnering with SMSEagle:

Bytecraft d.o.o. sought a communication solution that was stable, scalable, and easy to integrate into existing hospital infrastructure. Having worked with SMSEagle in the past, they were confident in its reliability and seamless API integration. SMSEagle’s proven track record in handling mission-critical messaging made it the ideal choice for this project.

Before implementing SMSEagle, Gospić General Hospital encountered the following issues:

  • Unreliable Communication Channels: Many patients lacked internet access, making emails and app-based notifications ineffective.

  • High No-Show Rates: Missed appointments disrupted hospital schedules and wasted valuable resources.

  • Manual Appointment Cancellations: Without an automated system, cancellations were difficult to manage and update in real time.

SMSEagle’s SMS gateway addressed these issues by providing a direct, automated, and reliable messaging system, ensuring patients received timely reminders and could easily manage their appointments.

Rating of SMSEagle Support: 5/5

SMSEagle’s support team was responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive in resolving any technical issues. Whether troubleshooting a configuration problem or providing guidance on optimizing SMS delivery, their assistance ensured smooth operation with minimal downtime.

Rating of Ordering process: 5/5

The ordering process was efficient, with clear communication and timely delivery. From initial inquiry to final purchase, the process was streamlined, ensuring that Bytecraft d.o.o. could deploy the solution quickly without delays.

Rating of SMSEagle Products: 4/5

SMSEagle proved to be a dependable solution for SMS communication, with high message delivery rates and consistent performance. While there were occasional challenges with mobile operator connectivity, these were swiftly addressed with the support team’s assistance, ensuring continued reliability.​

Challenge

  • The hospital needed a reliable way to communicate appointment reminders to patients across rural regions with weak or no internet connectivity.

  • High no-show rates were disrupting scheduling, wasting resources, and reducing patient throughput.

  • Manual processes for cancellations and updates were inefficient and often delayed, making real-time calendar management difficult.

  • The hospital required an automated, low-complexity solution that could deliver reminders instantly, work independently of internet access, and integrate with the existing appointment management system.

Solution & Deployment

  • Bytecraft implemented the SMSEagle hardware SMS gateway as the central platform for the hospital’s appointment reminders.

  • The hospital system uses SMSEagle API triggers to automatically send SMS reminders when appointments are created or updated.

  • Because the gateway connects directly to the mobile operator, messages are delivered even in offline or low-signal environments, eliminating reliance on internet-based apps.

  • SMS messages include reminder details and allow patients to cancel via reply, enabling the appointment system to update schedules quickly.

  • Implementation was fast and smooth, requiring minimal staff training due to SMSEagle’s clear interface and automation capabilities.

Results & Benefits

  • The hospital experienced a significant reduction in missed appointments, improving operational efficiency and patient flow.

  • Patients received reminders reliably, improving communication and reducing confusion about appointment times.

  • Cancellations became easier and more frequent, allowing staff to reallocate time slots and reduce wasted capacity.

  • Staff reported higher satisfaction with the scheduling process thanks to improved clarity and automation.

  • Bytecraft and the hospital consider SMSEagle a long-term, stable, and cost-efficient communication platform for critical healthcare messaging.

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