Nearly one year ago, we reported on Kaiser Permanente's successful pilot program with text message (SMS) solutions provider mobileStorm for appointment reminders. At the time KP announced that the pilot reduced costs and helped patients enough that it planned to roll the service out nationally by year-end. On December 11 Kaiser Permanente officially rolled out its SMS appointment reminder service, powered by mobileStorm.

mobileStorm's SMS platform enabled Kaiser to create and facilitate appointment reminders, treatment reminders as well as alerts that lab results have returned. The SMS vendor also outfitted the service with a short code "KAISER" to help the organization interact with patients. Assumedly, users can send text replies to "KAISER." The text messaging platform integrated into KP's automated appointment reminder system and reminders were sent to those patients who opted in a day before the appointment.

mobileStorm tells MobiHealthNews that Kaiser Permanente is just the first of many healthcare organizations it is currently working with on SMS appointment reminders, which could make the simple but effective application a break out trend for 2010.

For more on the deal, read this report from Mobile Marketer