When a reminder arrives decides whether it is read in time to act on. There is no perfect hour, and we know of no reliable public study of the best hour for Indian clinic patients. The guidance below follows a normal patient's day. Test it against your own patients.
Good times, and times to avoid
| Reminder | Usually works | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Day before the visit | Morning or early evening, while the patient can still plan the next day | Late at night |
| Morning of the visit | Early morning, before the patient leaves for work | Before most people are awake |
| Follow-up due | The day before, in the morning, so there is time to arrange leave or travel | Only on the day itself, with no warning |
Why timing matters
- A reminder read too late is wasted. A message seen at midnight for a morning visit leaves no time to arrange work, travel or someone to come along.
- Late messages annoy people. An annoyed patient is more likely to block or report the number, and WhatsApp may limit a business that collects blocks and reports.
- Many patients depend on someone else. Elderly patients and children often need a family member to bring them, so the reminder has to reach that person in time to plan.
An example
A clinic opens at 10 AM. A patient is booked for tomorrow evening.
- Today, mid-morning: the day-before reminder arrives with the doctor's name, the time and the clinic phone number. The patient has the whole day to arrange leave.
- Tomorrow, early morning: a short reminder that the visit is today, with the clinic phone number in case plans have changed.
- If they cannot come: they call the clinic, and the slot goes to another patient instead of sitting empty.
How to find the best time for your clinic
- Note which patients reply, call or reschedule after each reminder.
- Compare no-shows for a month before and a month after you change the timing.
- Ask a few regular patients when they would like to hear from you. Working patients and retired patients often answer differently.
With Vaidya OS
On a paid plan, Vaidya OS sends WhatsApp reminders on a fixed schedule, so nobody at the clinic has to remember:
- Booked visit: a reminder the day before, at your clinic's opening hour, and another at 8 AM on the day.
- Follow-up date: a reminder at 9 AM the day before, and another at 8 AM on the day.
A patient with a booking and a follow-up on the same day gets one morning reminder, not two. Automatic reminders do not run in the 14-day free trial. See how follow-up reminders work.