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Text a patient an appointment reminder that keeps the visit private

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're sending appointment reminder texts for a family medicine clinic. Write one for this patient under 45 words, plain text: date, time and the new suite number first, then what to bring, then the fasting instruction from the clinic sheet. Use only her first name, and never mention the reason for the visit or the provider's specialty (texts can be seen by anyone holding the phone). Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 45 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "4 short sentences, each under 12 words."
  • Burying the when and where. The AI opens with "Hi Lorraine, this is a friendly reminder from..." and the suite is buried. Try: Add: "First sentence: Tue Nov 18, 8:15 AM, Suite 240."
  • Using the old suite. Suite 110 is in the record, and the move note comes later. Try: Add: "We moved to Suite 240 on Nov 1."
  • Leaving out the prep. The AI skips the fasting rule or the medicine list. Try: Add: "Bring insurance card, ID and medicine list. Water only for 8 hours before."
  • Sharing private details. The AI helpfully says "for your physical and A1C recheck", which anyone holding the phone could read. Try: Add: "First name only. Don't mention the visit reason."
  • Ignoring where it will be pasted. AI loves bold and headings, which show up as stray ** and # symbols in a text message. Try: Name the place and the format: "For a text message. Plain text, no bold or headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Keeps the visit private
  • Uses the new suite
  • Includes the fasting rule
  • Puts when and where first
  • Sets a word limit

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