SMS Polls and Text-to-Vote Surveys
Collect patient feedback, satisfaction scores, and program input through simple text message polls that people can answer from their default messaging app. TxtSquad helps clinics, public health teams, and pharmacies ask focused questions without requiring patients to download an app or sign in to a portal.
What are SMS Polls?
SMS polls are questions sent by text message that recipients answer by replying. A clinic can ask, “How would you rate today's visit, 1 to 5?” and patients can respond without opening a form or downloading an app.
An SMS poll is usually a focused question with predefined answers. SMS surveys can collect more feedback, while online forms are available for longer questionnaires. Learn more by understanding SMS polls in depth.
How SMS Polling Works with TxtSquad
- 1. Create your poll. Write the question and response options for the feedback you need, such as a rating, yes-or-no question, or multiple-choice poll.
- 2. Send it. Send the survey or poll on its own, or attach an existing post-appointment survey to an appointment reminder sequence for automatic follow-up.
- 3. Collect responses. Responses are matched to each patient and counted as they arrive. If a reply is not one of the survey options, your team can continue it as a two-way SMS conversation.
- 4. Review and act. Review response counts and charts, export survey responses, and use the feedback to guide follow-up or patient-experience improvements. Learn about EHR integrations for connecting TxtSquad with other healthcare systems.
Collect feedback as a standalone survey or part of an appointment workflow
Create and send surveys and polls when you need an answer, or add a post-appointment survey to an appointment reminder sequence for automatic follow-up.
What Can You Ask with Polling SMS?
Healthcare teams use TxtSquad surveys and polls to collect focused feedback without adding another phone call to the day.
- Patient satisfaction: “How was your visit today? Reply 1-5.”
- Post-appointment feedback: Ask patients about their experience after a visit.
- Program feedback: Help public health teams gather input about clinic hours, outreach, and service awareness.
- Operational decisions: Ask whether patients would use new hours or services.
- Internal polling: Collect care-team input on scheduling and training priorities.
Text to Vote: SMS Voting for Community Health Decisions
Text to vote turns a focused decision into a one-question SMS poll patients can answer in seconds. Practices can ask about scheduling changes, while public health teams can gather input on clinic hours, outreach locations, and program priorities. Voting happens by reply, without requiring a portal login or separate app.
SMS Polling FAQ
What is an SMS poll?
An SMS poll is a question sent by text message that recipients answer by replying, such as a rating from 1 to 5 or YES or NO. Patients can respond without a form, app, or portal login.
Is SMS polling HIPAA compliant?
SMS polling can support compliant healthcare workflows when the platform, message content, access controls, and patient-consent practices are configured appropriately. TxtSquad supports HIPAA-compliant texting for US healthcare organizations and PIPEDA/PHIPA-compliant texting for Canadian providers.
What response rate do SMS polls get?
Response rates vary with the audience, consent quality, timing, and question length. In a 2024 general-practice study, two-way SMS follow-up surveys received responses from about half of the patients who had agreed to receive them. A short, focused question gives patients the clearest path to respond.
Do recipients need to opt in to receive SMS polls?
Healthcare organizations are responsible for obtaining the consent required for their messages and jurisdiction. Consent, privacy, and opt-out requirements should be reviewed before launching any patient survey or poll.
How much does SMS polling cost?
Pricing depends on your organization's messaging needs. Review TxtSquad pricing or talk to our team about the right plan for your workflow.
Start collecting feedback patients actually give
See how SMS polling works in a 15-minute walkthrough with our team.